The regulation and function of Cadherin-mediated adhesion within the zebrafish myotome.

Funded Activity Summary

Co-ordinating how cells interact with their neighbours and where different cells are positioned within an organ is the role of proteins termed cell adhesion molecules. They delineate and sort cells into different groups depending on which cell adhesion molecules are expressed on their surface. Cell adhesion molecules are also important during the onset of disease, in particular cancer, where the levels and type of cell adhesion molecules expressed on the surface of a cancer cell can determine how invasive or aggressive the cancer cell will become. However, despite the fundamental importance that cell adhesion plays in sorting out cells in every tissue, the exact basis of cell migratory behaviours that occur within the intact organism remain poorly defined. We have examined the ability of specific members of a particular class of cell adhesion molecules, the classical Cadherins, to control formation of muscle. To do this we have examined muscle formation within embryos of the zebrafish, a small embryologically accessible fresh water fish. We have determined how different cadherin molecules co-ordinate the final pattern of the myotome, the structure that gives rise to the majority of muscle in the early embryo. We have determined that differential cell adhesion drives cell sorting of specific muscle cell types via differential use of members of the classical cadherin family of proteins. This study aims to look further at the way that these proteins are regulated in different muscle cells of the forming body. By understanding how these molecules regulate cell sorting and adhesion within the zebrafish myotome we hope to be able to apply this knowledge to how these molecules control the formation of more complex tissues. Furthermore, we believe the implication of specific signalling pathways in the control of cadherin gene expression has particular implications for the role these proteins play in the progression of metastatic cancer.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2006

End Date: 01-01-2008

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $436,773.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Cellular Interactions (incl. Adhesion, Matrix, Cell Wall)

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

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Other Keywords

Cell adhesion and sorting | Embryology | Embryonic development | Metastatic cancer | Muscle Tissue formation | Muscle development | Muscular dystrophy | Zebrafish development

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