# EMBRYONIC CELL RECOGNITION:  SPECIFICITY DETERMINANTS

> **NIH NIH R01** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 1994 · $164,689

## Abstract

Gastrulation involves a number of cell interactions that ultimately
establish the primary body plan.  These morphogenetic rearrangements
utilize cell recognition and adhesion and a host of other cellular
functions to organize the ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm.  This project
asks how pattern unfolds during gastrulation in the sea urchin embryo where
a number of experimental approaches are uniquely possible.  Molecules
associated with several morphogenetic phenomena have been identified and
several epigenetic interactions have been identified.  Some of these have
been characterized, others are known only phenomenologically, and the
research has continued to identify experimentally, new cellular properties
that participate in this dramatic phase of development.  The goals are:
     (1)To complete the sequencing and functional characterization of
hyalin and echinonectin, two extraembryonic cell adhesive substrates.
Cells change their adhesiveness toward these molecules in germ
layer-specific patterns and at specific times during gastrulation.  As part
of this goal, an attempt to Identify the receptors for these substrates
will be made since the receptors are Implicated, experimentally, as having
multiple roles in development.
     (2) To identify, purify and characterize, components involved in four
crucial events of gastrulation:
          (a)During ingression of the primary mesenchyme cells there are
four simultaneous adhesion changes.  Molecular details are known for two
of these so the focus will be to learn molecular details about the other
two.
          (b)Endodermal cell rearrangements during archenteron invagination
utilize cell convergence and extension as the primary mechanism of
elongation of the primitive gut.  Experiments will attempt to characterize
adhesion molecules that participate in that morphogenetic movement,
starting with extant candidate molecules.
          (c)A specific target has been identified as the anatomical
destination of the archenteron at the end of its invagination.  Experiments
will attempt to identify marker molecules that are associated with that
interaction.
          (d)Two bilaterally located patches of ectoderm have been found
to regulate the pattern of spiculogenesis.  The ectoderm cells in these
patches somehow direct the underlying primary mesenchyme cells to organize
and synthesize the skeletogenic apparatus at two anatomically-specific
locations.  The dorso-ventral and the animal-vegetal axes are critical for
the spatial organization of these two sites.  Experiments will attempt to
learn how this positioning is established and the nature of the interaction
between the ectoderm and the primary mesenchyme cells.  These interactions
are both adhesive and involved in information transfer to establish
embryonic pattern.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2197102
- **Project number:** 5R01HD014483-15
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** TP7EK8DZV6N5
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID MCCLAY
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $164,689
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1980-07-01 → 1996-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2197102

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2197102, EMBRYONIC CELL RECOGNITION:  SPECIFICITY DETERMINANTS (5R01HD014483-15). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2197102. Licensed CC0.

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