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Defining the molecular phenotype of dopaminergic precursor cells: Identification of candidates for cell manipulation in vitro

Reference	BBS/E/B/0000L478
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Nicholas Allen
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Babraham Institute
Department	Babraham Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	50,368
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2001
End date	13/03/2004
Duration	35 months

Abstract

Development of the brain dopamine systems are critical for motor and cognitive functions of the brain. Of particular interest are the dopamine, DA, neurons of the midbrain that project to the forebrain to form the nigrostriatal pathway, deficits and degeneration of which leads to the development of severe neurological disorders including Parkinsons disease. Understanding the embryological and molecular mechanisms by which these neurons develop is seen as fundamental to underpin research towards the development of novel therapies. This project aims to define the molecular phenotype of wild-type precursor cells to the midbrain dopamine neurons, and subsequently to test the developmental functions of genes identified. We are using a powerful strategy in which the dopamine precursor cell populations are purified from the embryo and then subjected to a range of functional genomics analyses to determine the profile of all genes expressed in these cells. This approach will not only lead to the identification of novel genes involved in DA neuron development, but perhaps more importantly it will identify patterns of gene expression which will give us greater insight into the gene interactions involved in executing this specific developmental pathway.

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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