How the cell-surface protein Dlp controls Wnt signaling
Mechanisms of Wg/Wnt regulation by glypican Dlp
This project looks at how Dlp, a cell-surface protein, helps control Wnt signals that guide tissue growth and can be disrupted in some cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Lowell NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lowell, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251301 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team uses a fruit fly ovary (Drosophila germarium) model to follow how Dlp binds, releases, and changes location to control Wnt availability. They combine genetics, cell biology, and biochemical methods to test how cleavage by the enzyme Mmp2 alters Dlp function. Experiments will track Wnt distribution and signaling range after manipulating Dlp or Mmp2. The goal is to define molecular steps that balance long-range and local Wnt signaling.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with epithelial cancers or conditions known to involve abnormal Wnt signaling would be the most likely eventual beneficiaries of this research.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to Wnt pathway dysregulation are unlikely to see direct benefit from this lab-based work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal molecular targets to better control Wnt-driven tissue growth in epithelial cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Previous basic research has linked glypicans and matrix metalloproteases to Wnt regulation in model systems, but the specific Dlp/Mmp2 mechanism described here is relatively new and needs further validation.
Where this research is happening
Lowell, United States
- University of Massachusetts Lowell — Lowell, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Waghmare, Indrayani — University of Massachusetts Lowell
- Study coordinator: Waghmare, Indrayani
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.