This project has important implications for the development of gene therapy. LYM Examining the genomic potential of lymphocytes using hybrid and heterokaryon analysis. Experiments have shown that the developmental potential of differentiated cells, such as lymphocytes, can be restored under certain circumstances. This process is thought to require continuous positive and negative regulation in a way which is not well understood. The project will draw on established approaches, together with new information on the differences in the expression and spatial arrangement of lymphoid and muscle-specific genes in lymphocytes, fibroblasts and myoblast cells to study the role of nuclear and cytoplasmic factors in this regulatory process.
Many genetic mutations affect development and lead to birth defects and long term disability.
Arkadia is a novel nuclear factor which, from experiment, is known to be in the signalling pathway of the TGF-beta factor, Nodal, but the nature and the molecular mechanism of this interaction is unknown. The project will endeavour to unravel how Arkadia is regulated and, in particular, how it achieves temporal and tissue specificity. RNA editing describes insertions and deletion of bases in RNA sequences that are not encoded genomically. The aims of this project are to carry out a biochemical and genetic characterisation of an enzyme which mediates RNA editing which plays an important role in antibody class switching and hypermutation in vivo and in vitro. Understanding of the magnetic resonance properties of tendons and ligaments correlated with other physiological measurements and genetic information is expected to give new insights into the mechanisms of disease processes involving these structures.