# FIBRONECTIN AND SKIN DEVELOPMENT

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 1991 · $104,580

## Abstract

This proposal concerns the molecular basis by which fibronectins influence
maturation in the skin.  This family of closely related glycoproteins is
abundant in mammalian skin throughout development and postnatal life,
especially within the dermis, the connective tissue sheaths of nerve, blood
vessel and muscle fibers within the dermis and the dermal-epidermal
junction and other basement membranes.  Previous data suggest that
fibronectins, through their ability to influence cellular behavior, are
important extracellur matrix molecules.  They can specifically promote
cell-matrix adhesion and facilitate migration, processes inherently
involved in skin development and repair.  The molecular control of these
processes is, however, not well understood.  Since fibronectins are multi-
domain molecules, able to interact with collagens, proteoglycans and cell
surfaces we hypothesize that it is the controlled interaction of its
constituent domains which modulate adhesive responses to fibronectins, to
allow migration or firm anchorage.  Through the use of purified fibronectin
domains, specific antibodies, synthetic peptide analogues of fibronectin
and analysis of cell surface molecules potentially involved in modulating
cellular interactions with fibronectin, we shall examine how adhesion and
migration are controlled in cultured dermal fibroblasts.  Fibronectin is
synthesized very early in development and is enriched in embryonic basement
membranes.  However, its distribution with in the human dermal-epidermal
junction and changes which may occur in concert with epidermal maturation
are unknown.  Since many severe skin diseases involve lesions in the
basement membrane, documentation of its composition through development is
important.  We shall use immunoelectron microscopy to map fibronectins in
the dermal-epidermal junction.  Moreover, our data with an epithelial cell
line show that fibronectins may promote basement membrane assembly, a
process commensurate with tissue organization and repair.  Presently, the
molecular mechanism of its action is unknown and we propose to test whether
fibronectins 'nucleate' assembly of the basement membrane matrix and/or
influence epithelial behavior and promote direct export of matrix
components.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3159963
- **Project number:** 5R01AR039741-03
- **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:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $104,580
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1988-12-01 → 1993-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3159963

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3159963, FIBRONECTIN AND SKIN DEVELOPMENT (5R01AR039741-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3159963. Licensed CC0.

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