Grant: Project Grant

Proteoglycans (PGs) are a class of sugar-coated molecules that are secreted to help build a structural support outside of the cell. Skeletal cells secrete massive amounts of PGs, which provide mechanical properties to skeletal tissues, such as cartilage and bone. More recently, studies indicate that PGs play a role in cell communication by binding to secreted proteins called growth factors (GFs). The type of PG present in skeletal tissues is different from the tissues in most of these studies, however, so we propose to study the role of skeletal PGs in GF communication. By focussing on skeletal PGs, our work addresses molecular mechanisms underlying the most common skeletal disease, osteoarthritis. Specifically, we use the latest genetic and imaging techniques to evaluate how PGs regulate GF communication, and how disruptions to this process affect skeletal tissues.