Interaction of Rab3D and Tctex-1 is required for bone resorption through the regulation of post-TGN vesicle trafficking

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/458765

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells responsible for the breakdown-resorption of bone tissue. Elevated osteoclast numbers and-or activities is a major hallmark of a number of debilitating Orthopaedic-related diseases including osteoporosis, arthritis, bone cancer and aseptic loosening. Among these, osteoporosis is endemic in Western society with an estimated 1 in 2 women and 1 in 3 men sustaining a fracture in their lifetime. It is well accepted that the transport of carrier vesicles containing bone destructive enzymes is critical for bone resorption by osteoclasts. Although vesicle transport has been shown to be associated with microtubules (the cells skeleton), the molecular mechanisms responsible for vesicle and microtubule interaction are largely unknown. We have identified a novel interaction between Rab3D, a vesicle transport molecule, with Tctex-1, a microtubule-binding protein. We propose that the binding of Rab3D to Tctex-1 in osteoclasts is essential for the interaction of vesicles with microtubules and, hence, osteoclast function. The focus of this project is to further confirm our hypothesis by analysing the importance of this interaction in osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. The anticpated outcomes of the proposed project are: 1) Rab3D-mediated vesicle transport is directed via the microtubule network; 2) Interaction between Rab3D and Tctex-1 is cruical for the coupling of Rab3D-mediated vesicle transport to the microtubules; and 3)Disruption of the Rab3D-Tctex-1 interaction may impair bone resorption. Understanding the molecular mechanisms which regulate osteoclastic vesicle trafficking might therefore enable us to develop new strategies to specifically target and inhibit breakdown of bone tissue.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2007

End Date: 01-01-2009

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $391,510.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Orthopaedics

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

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Other Keywords

Aseptic loosening | Osteoarthritis | Osteoclast | Osteoporosis | Total hip replacement | bone resorption | vesicle transport

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