How Gli3 and Hand2 shape jaw and facial development
Predicting Tissue Specific Gli3 Regulatory Activity Using Hand2
This work looks at how two proteins, Gli3 and Hand2, guide jaw and face formation to help explain birth differences of the skull and face.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Jackson Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bar Harbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11300950 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will use specially engineered versions of the Gli3 protein to track when and where it acts during jaw development. They will study how DNA accessibility and nearby regulatory sequences influence Gli3's ability to turn genes on. The researchers will test how partner proteins like Hand2 and other cofactors change enhancer output in cells that build the mandible. Finally, they will identify proteins that bind Gli3 inside the nucleus to map the molecular machinery behind its activator function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People or families affected by congenital craniofacial differences (for example mandibular growth disorders or syndromes linked to Gli genes) would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to craniofacial development or adult-onset diseases are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify causes of congenital craniofacial differences and point to molecular targets for future diagnostics or therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked Gli proteins to craniofacial syndromes and used molecular tagging and chromatin methods, but applying new endogenous Gli3 tags to reveal activator-specific regulation in the jaw is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Bar Harbor, United States
- Jackson Laboratory — Bar Harbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peterson, Kevin Anthony — Jackson Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Peterson, Kevin Anthony
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.