Southwestern In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Program

Core 6
Transgenics

In collaboration with Stephen A. Johnston, Eric N. Olson, and Thomas Sato, this Core is engaged in fundamental research relating to stem cell biology, and molecular signals controlling growth and differentiation of muscle tissues and blood vessels. In addition, they have recently embarked on experiments designed to exploit advances in fundamental understanding of these processes for developing strategies for tissue repair, and control of vascular growth, in human subjects with cardiovascular disease or cancer. Extensive use of transgenic animals in this work, and of biochemical strategies for identification of ligands that bind to specific proteins or cellular targets can provide leads for Cores 4 and 5. A non-invasive approach to identify transgenic animals that express specific transgene markers in the correct anatomical pattern will streamline the currently laborious and time-consuming screening of different transgenic founders to identify those animals from which stable transgenic lines should be established. Second, a non-invasive method to monitor the fate of genetically tagged donor cells following transplantation will facilitate these analyses decidedly. In collaboration with Drs. Mason, Öz, and other investigators of the Imaging Program, suitable specific reporter genes will be identified for NMR or PET detection. We will directly compare the sensitivity and specificity of images acquired using nuclear or MR imaging of cells tagged to express specific transgene products using muscle-specific or endothelial cell-specific promoter/ enhancer elements. We will compare the imaging results to direct histological characterization of the same cells tagged with GFP or lac-Z reporter genes using a bicistronic expression cassette.

The group will provide considerable experience with transgenic technology, and experience in characterizing the expression pattern of transgenes using histological methods. In addition, they have a great deal of experience in phage display and other methods designed to identify ligands that binds specifically to target proteins or cell types. This group is prepared to assist other investigators within the Imaging Program in the application of these methods to experimental goals described elsewhere in the application.

For Further Information Contact: RALPH  P. MASON, Ph.D.
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