How Fat cadherin proteins help tissues grow and shape organs
Regulation of tissue growth and morphogenesis by Fat cadherins
This project looks at how proteins called Fat cadherins help tissues grow and take the correct shape, with relevance to certain developmental syndromes and some cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176715 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use the fruit fly (Drosophila), a common lab model, to follow how the Fat and Dachsous cadherin proteins organize cells during development. They will use genetic tools and cell biology to see how these proteins control Hippo signaling and planar cell polarity, two systems that tell cells when and how to grow. The team will examine how vesicle trafficking moves and remodels cadherin junctions to allow tissues to change shape. Findings will be used to build a clearer picture of how mutations cause congenital syndromes and how similar pathways may be involved in cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Van Maldergem or Hennekam syndromes, or patients whose tumors have alterations in FAT/DCHS pathway genes, are most directly relevant to the goals of this research.
Not a fit: Patients with unrelated conditions or those seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic lab-based fly genetics project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal molecular targets and mechanisms that inform future treatments for Van Maldergem and Hennekam syndromes and point to new pathways relevant to some cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and cell studies have linked Fat and Dachsous to Hippo signaling and tissue patterning, but the role of vesicle trafficking and the detailed mechanisms proposed here are relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Stony Brook, United States
- State University New York Stony Brook — Stony Brook, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Misra, Jyoti R. — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Misra, Jyoti R.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.