1. Sponsor Organization: National Science Foundation

2. Project Title: Molecular Mechanisms of Thyroid Hormone Action on Stem Cells

3. Project Focus:

• Project Primary Focus: Human Health Effects
• Project Secondary Focus:

4. Description:

In the study funded by this POWRE (Professional Opportunities for Women in Research and Engineering) award, Dr. Hoskins will examine the molecular basis of changes that occur in the frog eye during metamorphosis. The eyes of young tadpoles are situated on the sides of the head and the two eyes view non-overlapping regions of the visual world. During metamorphosis, the head changes shape, and the eyes move together, with the result that adult frogs have binocular vision -- parts of the visual world are seen with both eyes, as is the case in humans. During the transition from tadpole to frog, which is brought about by thyroid hormone, numerous changes occur both within the eye and in the connections between the eye and the brain. Previous work from the Hoskins laboratory showed that thyroid hormone induces a specific new pattern of retinal growth, and that a new set of optic nerve axons are produced during metamorphosis. These new studies will address the question of how thyroid h ormone triggers change s in retinal growth, and how the new axons formed during metamorphosis are able to connect to their proper targets, which differs from the pattern of connections made by tadpole axons. Thyroid hormone acts through a receptor that is capable of changing the pattern of gene expression; it therefore seems likely that hormone-induced genes expressed in the retina will play a role in the metamorphic transformations in the visual system. The nervous systems of all animals, including humans, are dependent on thyroid hormone for proper development. Dr. Hoskins' experimental system offers a uniquely accessible and manipulable model for examining the mechanisms of thyroid hormone action during development, and the results of these studies are expected to be relevant to its general roles in neuronal development. This POWRE award will allow an excellent investigator with substantial teaching duties to begin a research project using new molecular methodology on a system and a question with in wh ich she has had a long -standing interest.

5. References:

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6. Inventory Category:

• Primary: Models
• Secondary:

7. Inventory Subcategory:

• Primary: Basic Research
• Secondary:
  • Sentinel Species

8. Keywords for Experimental System/Species:

• Species:
  • Amphib
• Study Type:
  • In Vivo
  • Laboratory Study
• Fate and Transport:

9. Keywords for Experimental Endpoints:

• Health Effect:
  • Neurological
• Hormonal Measures:
  • Growth Factors
  • Hormone Receptors
  • Thyroid Hormones
• Level Of Study:
  • Biochemistry
  • Gene Expression
• Chemistry Metabolism:
  • Analyte Detection
  • Analyte Quantification
• Life Stage:
  • Growth
  • Metamorphosis
• Risk Assessment:
  • Susceptible Subpopulations

10. Chemical Agents:

11. Performing Institution:

• City University of New York City College ;

12. Contact:

Institution: City University of New York City College
Division:
Given Name:
Name: Sally Hoskins
Title:
Form:
E-Mail: sallyh@scisun.sci.ccny.cuny.edu
Phone: 212/690-6741
Fax:
Street: Convent Avenue at 138th Street
Zip:
City: New York, NY 10031
State:
Country:

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