# BASEMENT MEMBRANE PROTEOGLYCANS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 1992 · $136,231

## Abstract

Basement membranes are specialized zones of connective tissue underlying
parenchymal cells and separating them from supporting connective tissues.
They are composed of a number of macromolecules which interact with each
other and with cell surfaces.  Functionally they not only provide support
and a selective filter but, through cell surface interactions, profoundly
influence cell behavior such as growth, migration and differentiation.
Heparan sulfate proteoglycan has been identified as an important basement
membrane constituent and is implicated in control of basement membrane
permeability.  We have also identified and partially characterized a
basement membrane-specific chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan synthesized by
the PYS-2 cell line.  Antibodies have been raised against this and the
heparan sulfate proteoglycan, purified from bulk cultures, and these stain
many mammalian basement membranes.  In this proposal we aim to further
characterize the proteoglycans and survey their distribution in skin and
other basement membranes, with particular emphasis on the embryonic
development and ultrastructural studies.  The antisera already raised will
be exhaustively characterized and monoclonal antibodies will be raised
against the PYS-2 chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan.  These will assist in
immunohistochemical and structural analysis of this newly recognized
basement membrane component.

The intermolecular interactions between the PYS-2 proteoglycans and other
basement membrane macromolecules will also be investigated.  It is intended
that data concerning the role of basement membrane proteoglycans in the
dermal-epidermal junction will be gained which may be of future
significance in the study of a wide range of skin diseases where lesions at
the basement membrane are an integral part of the pathological process.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3157599
- **Project number:** 5R01AR036457-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **SAM.gov UEI:** YND4PLMC9AN7
- **Principal Investigator:** JOHN R. COUCHMAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $136,231
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-09-30 → 1996-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3157599

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3157599, BASEMENT MEMBRANE PROTEOGLYCANS (5R01AR036457-07). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3157599. Licensed CC0.

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