Grant: Operating Grant

Integrins are the main molecules in the human body that link cells to the extracellular matrix (ECM), a mixture of complex sugars and proteins that forms the base upon which tissues are built. Integrins are very important for many biological processes in the human body and disruptions in integrin function are associated with a large number of diseases. We are interested in understanding the mechanisms by which integrin carry out their diverse functions. Our proposal deals with analyzing three processes that are play important roles in human health: muscle attachment to tendons, wound healing in epithelial tissues such as skin, and blood cell migration such as that used by white blood cells during infection. The powerful genetic and imaging tools and the relative simplicity of the fly genome means that fly is a terrific model in which to analyze integrin function. We have spent the last few years building a large array of reagents and tools that allow us to systematically analyze integrin function in these three processes in the context of the intact living organism; often in real time. Results of this study will shed important light on how integrins are controlled during tissue formation and tissue maintenance, and also provide insight into how dysregulation of integrin function leads to disease.