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BBSRC Strategic Research Studentship: Role of amino acid transport system A in mammalian physiology and disease

ReferenceBBS/E/B/0000L712
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Dr Miguel Constancia
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Institution Babraham Institute
DepartmentBabraham Institute Department
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 38,211
StatusCompleted
TypeInstitute Project
Start date 01/01/2007
End date 31/12/2010
Duration48 months

Abstract

A functional placenta is of vital importance for a successful pregnancy. Nutrients from mum reach the fetus after crossing the placenta. Transporter proteins are located at both maternal and fetal membranes in the placenta and allow for the rapid transfer of the fuel molecules that the baby needs for optimal growth (examples are amino-acids and glucose). We are interested in finding out how transporters of small neutral amino-acids work in the placenta. We hypothesize that these transporters, which are called System A, are important for providing the baby with appropriate amounts of amino-acids. We will be using elegant chromosome engineering techniques to generate mice that lack these proteins specifically in the placenta and assess the effects on fetal growth. We will also study how the deficiency in these amino-acid transporters affects the behaviour and growth of cells cultured in vitro.

Summary

unavailable
Committee Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
Research TopicsX – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative X - not in an Initiative
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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