$20,000

Functional analysis of Cdx transcription factors in neural precursor cells

The embryonal development of the mammalian nervous system requires signaling pathways both for the correct spatial orientation of the primordial neural tube and the targeted migration of neural crest stem cells to their appropriate peripheral locations where they colonize various regions of the embryo and differentiate into mature cell types. Defects in these signaling pathways may have serious detrimental consequences. First, they may lead to congenital malformations of the nervous system which develops from the neural tube. Second, they may cause an arrest in the differentiation of the peripheral neural crest stem cells. This, in turn, would allow their uncontrolled proliferation that may progress to some forms of childhood cancers such as neuroblastoma or melanoma. Three fundamental signaling pathways, that have been preserved among various species from invertebrates to humans, converge to direct the correct development of the mammalian nervous system. Dr. Pilon will attempt to define how a family of key proteins (the Cdx transcription factors) integrates the input of one of these pathways (the Wnt signaling pathway) with the other two pathways during the development of the mammalian nervous system. The definition of these basic mechanisms will contribute to a better understanding of the development of the mammalian nervous system and how defects in the normal development result in congenital malformations or some forms of childhood cancers.