How protective cell-surface coatings are built and shaped
Building and shaping the apical extracellular matrix
Researchers are using a tiny worm to learn how protective coatings on cell surfaces form and help organs like the ear, lung, kidney, and blood vessels work properly.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330554 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project studies the apical extracellular matrix (aECM), the protective, protein- and lipid-rich layer that coats exposed surfaces of cells, using the small roundworm C. elegans. Scientists tag aECM components with fluorescent markers and use live imaging plus genetic tools to watch how these molecules are trafficked, assembled into layers and 3-D structures, and how they respond to genetic or environmental changes. The work focuses on conserved components such as collagens, zona pellucida (ZP) proteins, proteoglycans, and lipids that are similar between worms and humans. Although experiments are done in worms, the mechanisms uncovered can help explain why defects in these layers cause human conditions like deafness, lung, kidney, and vascular disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with conditions linked to extracellular matrix defects—such as some forms of hereditary deafness or certain lung, kidney, or vascular diseases—are the patient groups most likely to benefit from the findings over time.
Not a fit: Patients looking for immediate treatment options or those with conditions unrelated to extracellular matrix function are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Improved understanding of how these protective cell-surface layers form could eventually guide new diagnostics or therapies for deafness and certain lung, kidney, and vascular disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Worm genetics and live fluorescent imaging have previously clarified extracellular matrix roles in development, but applying them to detailed 3-D assembly of apical matrices is a newer direction with promising early results.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sundaram, Meera — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Sundaram, Meera
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.