# MOLECULAR CONTROL OF CELL INTERACTIONS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 1994 · $165,403

## Abstract

My laboratory is interested in the molecular basis of cellular interactions
during development.  Our present approach to this problem evolved from
biochemical studies of the T/t-complex mutations in the mouse - mutations
that interfere, directly or indirectly, with normal fertilization and
embryonic morphogenesis.  Of nine enzymes that were assayed, only beta 1,4
galactosyltransferase (GalTase) proved to be different between normal and
T/t-mutant tissues.  Consequently, for the past 13 years, we have used a
variety of biochemical, immunological, and genetic probes to define the
function of cell surface GalTase participates during the initial binding of
sperm to the egg zona pellucida, during the transition of the compacted
morula to the blastocyst, and during mesenchymal cell migration on laminin-
containing matrices.

This award was initiated two years ago to bring the sophistication of
molecular biology to study the regulation, expression and function of
surface GalTase.  During the current funding period we have defined the
temporal involvement of surface GalTase in preimplantation embryonic
development and F9 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell adhesion, cloned a 3.1kb
GalTase cDNA from F9 EC cells, used this cDNA to clarify the confusion in
the literature regarding the isolation of multiple, unrelated GalTase
cDNAs, analyzed GalTase expression and subcellular distribution during F9
EC cell differentiation, and cloned the full-length GalTase cDNA from
lactating mammary gland libraries.

During the next funding period, we intend to continue our studies regarding
the regulation of GalTase expression and function during development.
Specifically, we will determine if surface GalTase triggers F9 EC cell
differentiation, analyze the relationship between the Golgi and plasma
membrane forms of GalTase by appropriate GalTase cDNA transfections and
subcellular fractionation, analyze GalTase expression during normal and t-
mutant spermatogenesis by Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization,
and examine the consequences of altering GalTase expression in transfected
cells and in transgenic animals.

These studies will offer new insights into the regulation of glycoconjugate
biosynthesis in general, and more importantly, address the mechanisms
underlying mammalian fertilization and embryonic development at the
molecular level.  We will attempt to produce genetically-defined
phenocopies of the T/t-complex mutations by over producing GalTase in
transgenic animals.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2198589
- **Project number:** 5R01HD022590-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **SAM.gov UEI:** S3GMKS8ELA16
- **Principal Investigator:** BARRY D SHUR
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $165,403
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-12-01 → 1995-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2198589

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2198589, MOLECULAR CONTROL OF CELL INTERACTIONS (5R01HD022590-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2198589. Licensed CC0.

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