# TRANSGENIC APPROACHES TO NERVOUS SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

> **NIH NIH R37** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 1994 · $227,214

## Abstract

Transgenic mice offer a new approach to attack complex systems
such as the nervous system.  A multi-faceted approach directed
towards studying the consequences of interfering with neuron
development and function is being developed.  As first step, the
four genes encoding the enzymes involved in catecholamine
biosynthesis will be cloned in order to characterize the neuron-
specific enhancer and promoter elements in each of these genes.
To help understand the DNA elements that allow expression of
these genes in subsets of neurons, the enhancers from the neuron-
specific enolase gene, that is expressed in all neurons, will also be
characterized.  The enhancer/promoter elements from these
genes will be used to direct the expression of various structural
genes to specific neurons and adrenal medullary cells of
transgenic mice.  Structural genes will be chosen that may affect
various aspects of neuronal cell development or function.  They
fall into several categories.  (i) Oncogenes:  The effect of SV40 T-
antigen, ras, myc and /or src on neuronal differentiation or
transformation will be studied.  (ii) Nerve growth factor (NGF):
The hypothesis that neuronal growth, differentiation and survival
are influenced by gradients of NGF will be tested.  (iii)
Neurotransmitters:  Transgenic mice in which specific subsets of
neurons express additional neurotransmitters or neuromodulatory
peptides will be created to determine whether altering
neurotransmitter synthesis affects the development and function
of the nervous system.  (iv) Diphtheria toxin:  This toxin will be
used to ablate epinephrine-producing adrenal medullary cells to
study the role of epinephrine in stress response.  It will also be
used to study the consequences of deleting neurons making a
specific neurotransmitter on the development of the rest of the
nervous system.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2196656
- **Project number:** 5R37HD009172-20
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HD1WMN6945W6
- **Principal Investigator:** Richard D. Palmiter
- **Activity code:** R37 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $227,214
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1978-05-01 → 1998-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2196656

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2196656, TRANSGENIC APPROACHES TO NERVOUS SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT (5R37HD009172-20). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2196656. Licensed CC0.

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