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Laura Burrus
Developmental Biology |
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| Research Interests: The development of a vertebrate organism from a single fertilized egg is a complex series of events involving both cell proliferation and specialization. Many of these events have been shown to be mediated by intercellular signals. To date, four families of secreted proteins that provide essential intercellular cues during development have been identified. These include the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family, the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family, the hedgehog family, and the Wnt family. My current research interests pertain to the molecular mechanisms by which Wnt signals influence vertebrate somite and neural crest cell development. Early somite and neural crest cell populations are pluriopotential: somites can give rise to muscle, bone, and skin cell types while neural crest cells can differentiate as pigment cells, neurons (of the PNS) and glial cells. In somites, Wnt proteins are thought to act as positive regulators of muscle cell specification and negative regulators of cartilage (a precursor of bone) cell formation. Likewise, in neural crest cells, Wnt proteins are believed to be required for the specification of pigment cell fates while being inhibitory to neuronal cell fates. We are taking both biochemical and molecular biological approaches to understanding the roles of Wnts in these important developmental events. In order to further advance our knowledge of Wnt signals and the regulation of Wnt signaling, we have also isolated cDNAs encoding 3 members of Frzb family of Wnt antagonists and 7 members of the Frizzled family of Wnt receptors. We are currently using molecular tools to investigate the roles of these proteins in Wnt signaling. As we acquire a better understanding of the molecular cues required for proper somite and neural crest cell specification, we will be paving the way for the development of techniques by which diseased or injured muscle/bone/neurons can be regenerated. In addition, by establishing these types of interactions between signaling molecules, we are not only enhancing our knowledge of how muscle and bone tissues are generated during normal development; we are also identifying regulatory motifs that may play a role in a variety of other developmental processes as well as cancer. |
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| Recent Publications & Presentations: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&cmd=search&term=burrus%20lw | |||