Identification of a genetic defect characterized by radiosensitivity and defective p53 stabilization

Funded Activity Summary

Radiation is an important therapeutic agent for the treatment of a variety of cancers. However, radiation also causes cancers, certainly at high doses but it remains unclear as to the threat from low dose radiation eg in the vicinity of radiation accidents and at high altitudes. A greater understanding of the threats of radiation exposure is possible from the study of a number of rare syndromes characterized by extreme sensitivity to radiation and predisposition to develop cancer. The identification of new syndromes with radiosensitivity assists in delineating the overall response to radiation and the connection with cancer. This project is designed to identify the molecular basis of what appears to be a novel defect. It has some of the characteristics of a well described syndrome ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), namely signs of neurodegeneration and sensitivity to radiation but the protein defective in A-T appears to have normal function in this case. A comprehensive investigation of a number of pathways of radiation signaling is planned to identify the nature of the defect.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2003

End Date: 01-01-2005

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $267,750.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Genetics Not Elsewhere Classified

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Genetic defect | Genetic disease | cell cycle | cerebella disorder | chromosonal disorder | molecular genetics | mutation analysis | mutations | p53 | p53 tumour suppressor gene

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