# BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF OSTEOCLASTS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 1992 · $129,475

## Abstract

Over the past several years, new data have accumulated on the
lineage and hormonal responsivity of osteoclasts but, with few
exceptions, the biochemical mechanisms underlying these phenomena
remain poorly understood.  The latter gap in information is
particularly apparent at the molecular biological level where no
literature exists on the isolation, characterization and/or
regulation of those genes which define the osteoclast RNA and in
identifying several genes (e.g., carbonic anhydrase whose activity
appears elevated in osteoclasts relative to related marrow and
marrow-derived cells, e.g., macrophages and macrophage
multinucleated giant cells.  In the present renewal, three major
aims are identified that, if attained, should provide significant
insight into the gene regulatory mechanisms operational in
osteoclasts.  The first is to further enlarge the "panel" of cDNA
probes necessary to explore the regulation of gene expression.
Such panel enlargement will be achieved using two strategies; in
one, previously cloned cDNAs from non-osteoclastic cells or tissues
(e.g., human tartrate resistant acid phosphatase) will be used to
identify their homologs in chicken osteoclast cDNA libraries; in
the other, cDNA clones responding to, as yet, unrecognized
osteoclast development/function-related genes will be isolated from
osteoclast cDNA libraries by comparative and antibody screening
using cDNA probes and monoclonal reagents developed for genes
prominently expressed using cDNA probes and monoclonal reagents
developed for genes prominently expressed in osteoclasts and
related cells.  The second aim is to determine the pattern of gene
expression (i.e., changes in specific mRNA abundance) in
differentiating osteoclasts and in osteoclasts responding to select
effector substances.  The final aim is to initiate analysis of the
mechanisms underlying the changes in gene expression with a
particular focus on transcriptional regulation.  This aim will be
achieved using the nuclear runoff technique and the transfection
of promoter-reporter gene constructs into osteoclasts and related
multinucleated giant cells.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3158302
- **Project number:** 5R01AR037716-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **SAM.gov UEI:** KMH5K9V7S518
- **Principal Investigator:** ARNOLD KAHN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $129,475
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1991-03-01 → 1995-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3158302

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3158302, BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF OSTEOCLASTS (5R01AR037716-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3158302. Licensed CC0.

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