Award details

ISPG/IIA Studentship: Mineral transport across the placenta: interactions between copper and iron

Reference	BBS/E/F/00042199
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Ruan Elliott
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Quadram Institute Bioscience
Department	Quadram Institute Bioscience Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	59,400
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/2005
End date	30/09/2008
Duration	36 months

Abstract

During pregnancy iron is transferred from mother to foetus across the placenta. The molecular basis for the transfer process and its regulation is currently being elucidated as part of a new BBSRC RM grant (Srai and McArdle). It has been established that a number of specific iron transport proteins are involved, but it is also evident that other metals such as copper can alter the efficiency of iron transport. The mechanism of iron-copper transport interactions at the placenta and the implications for the mineral status of the mother and fetus will form the focus of this project. Studies will be performed using the BeWO human placental cell line. These have the ability to form a polarized monolayer when grown on porous filters and display directional transport features. This property will be exploited to examine the effects of copper on iron uptake and efflux rate and, if possible, the effect of iron on copper uptake and efflux rates. The mechanisms underlying the interactions between copper and iron on gene expression patterns in these cells will be studied using a combination of protein expression (proteomic and Western blot) and transcriptional profiling (real-time RT-PCR and microarray) approaches (one of the target genes will be TfR as this changes in Cu deficiency). We will also consider the possibility of transfecting BeWO cells with ferroportin. Animal studies will be performed at RRI to explore and validate the results obtained from the cell work. The student will be provided with training in the use of cell culture system, copper and iron transport studies and gene expression analyses by experts from the different partners involved in the project (RRI, UCL and IFR).

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	Diet and Health
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

I accept the terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)

export PDF file

back to list new search