# PROTEOGLYCANS IN AVIAN SKIN MORPHOGENESIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 1992 · $176,674

## Abstract

The long term objective of the proposal is to study the role of the
extracellular matrix (ECM) in morphogenesis.  The organ of choice
is the embryonic skin and the ECM components are the proteoglycans.
Previous results have indicated that embryonic skin contains
several discrete populations of proteoglycans that may differ both
in their core protein and in their glycosaminoglycan side chains.
Of the three proteoglycan populations identified, one can interact
with hyaluronic acid and one is intercalated in the cell membrane.
In an effort to understand the function of these two proteoglycans,
their structure will be determined by deducing the entire amino
acid sequence of their core proteins from cDNA clones that will be
generated (Aim #1).  The functional properties of these
proteoglycans will be determined by identifying other matrix
proteins and cells with which they may interact.  The specific
domains on the proteoglycans that are involved in the interactions
with other matrix molecules and cells will be identified and
characterized using the recombinant DNA and immunological tools
developed (Aim #2).  The temporal and spatial appearance of the
proteoglycan transcripts will be determined with the cDNA probes
in situ hybridization experiments and this information will be
correlated with the appearance of the translation products and with
the localization of other ECM macromolecules (Aim #3).  Based on
the observation that the intercalated heparan sulfate proteoglycan
is no longer synthesized in cell culture, an investigation will be
undertaken to determine the role of the integrity of the skin
tissue in the transcriptional and translational regulation of the
synthesis of the proteoglycan (Aim #4).  The possible relationship
between the intercalated proteoglycan and the cytoskeleton will
also be investigated (Aim #5).  Finally, genomic clones coding for
the two skin proteoglycan core proteins will be isolated in an
effort to study the organization of the gene and to obtain putative
regulatory sequences for these genes (Aim #6).

These studies will be carried out on the dorsal (feather forming)
and tarsometatarsal (scale forming) regions of normal embryos and
on comparable regions of scaleless embryos, which, as a result of
a hereditary lesion, fail to develop feathers and skins.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2198422
- **Project number:** 5R01HD022050-08
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **SAM.gov UEI:** FLJ7DQKLL226
- **Principal Investigator:** PAUL F GOETINCK
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $176,674
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-01-01 → 1994-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2198422

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2198422, PROTEOGLYCANS IN AVIAN SKIN MORPHOGENESIS (5R01HD022050-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2198422. Licensed CC0.

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