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The role of ERK5 in cell cycle arrest, differentiation and senescence

Reference	BBS/E/B/0000L126
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Simon Cook
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Babraham Institute
Department	Babraham Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	80,331
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	16/09/2004
End date	15/09/2007
Duration	36 months

Abstract

During development of the organism cells cease dividing and undergo a process of `differentiation¿ during which they acquire the characteristics of certain specialised cell types that make up discrete tissues such as muscles, nerves or blood cells. This process can be studied without the use of laboratory animals by using cultured cells. The decision of a cell to differentiate is initially determined by external signals which are in turn translated into intracellular signals. We are interested in determining the role of one specific signal pathway, leading to activation of an enzyme called ERK5, and its role in differentiation. The results of this study should tell us more about the process of normal differentiation and may provide information about how we can influence these cellular decisions to direct cells toward one specialised cell type or another. This may be useful in engineering artificial tissue for transplants and may be of relevance to nerve repair following injury. Finally, since ERK5 may arbitrate the cell¿s decision to divide or not the results may have relevance to cancer.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Biochemistry & Cell Biology (BCB)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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