# CELL-MATRIX INTERACTIONS IN AMPHIBIAN DEVELOPMENT

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · 1994 · $231,971

## Abstract

A central challenge in biology is to understand the cellular processes
that direct morphogenesis and the formation of the basic body plan during
development.  These events are controlled to large extend, by adhesive
interactions of cells with one another and with their extracellular
environments.  The research proposed for the next project period will
investigate molecular mechanisms of cell-extracellular matrix (ECM)
adhesion mediated by integrin receptors.  The primary goal is to
establish the functional contribution of integrins to the morphogenetic
processes that help shape the early amphibian embryo.

In order to better understand integrin function and expression in
embryogenesis, full-length cDNA clones encoding multiple integrin alpha
subunits will be obtained from Xenopus lambdacDNA libraries.  These cDNAs
will be used to prepare bacterial fusion proteins for the purposes of
generating and characterizing monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies.
Xenopus tissue culture cells will also be used as immunogen to produce
monoclonal antibodies that block integrin function.  Immunocytochemistry
and in situ hybridization methods will be utilized in order to determine
the spatial and temporal patterns of integrin mRNA and protein expression
in embryos.  Several approaches will then be employed to analyze the
functions of specific integrin receptors.  Integrin transcripts will be
injected into eggs and specific blastomeres and the adhesion, migration
and fate of the progeny determined as development proceeds.  The adhesive
and migratory behaviors of normal embryonic cells and those over-
expressing specific integrins will be compared in vitro on a variety of
ECM substrates.  Function-blocking antibodies will also be used to
perturb integrin function in in vitro adhesion assays and in vivo by
microinjection.  Changes in integrin mediated cell adhesion in response
to induction will be studied using cells and explants derived from
embryos injected with transcripts encoding peptides known to induce
mesoderm.  The control of integrin expression and/or the activation of
integrin ligand binding activity in activin-induced tissues will also be
investigated at the mRNA and protein levels.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2199925
- **Project number:** 5R01HD026402-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** JJG6HU8PA4S5
- **Principal Investigator:** DOUGLAS W. DESIMONE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $231,971
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1990-01-01 → 1998-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2199925

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2199925, CELL-MATRIX INTERACTIONS IN AMPHIBIAN DEVELOPMENT (5R01HD026402-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2199925. Licensed CC0.

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