THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY
Grant: $867,620 - National Institutes of Health - Sep. 23, 2009
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Award Description: Since recent studies suggest that environmental toxicants can affect the integrity of the genome through effects on epigenetic mechanisms, the extent to which this occurs with different levels and types of Pb exposure need to be studied. Thus, the research proposed in this application has the following specific aim: Specific Aim. Assess the extent to which different types and levels of developmental lead exposure result in epigenetic influences on DNA methylation and MeCP2 expression/methylation in particular and the extent to which these effects correlate with gender and behavioral outcome. These studies will examine the extent to which different types and levels of lead exposure in male and female animals influence DNA methylation on a genome-wide basis and the extent to which there is aberrant MeCP2 promoter methylation and MeCP2 protein expression in the hippocampus, a brain regions known to be functionally affected by developmental lead exposure. We will then correlate these findings with behavioral outcomes. Our hypothesis is that lead exposure leads to a neurodevelopmental disorder, fundamentally, a disorder of plasticity, related to altered epigenetic gene regulation (i.e., alterations in DNA methylation) and that these effects may vary with gender.
Project Description: As described in award description.
Jobs Summary: No jobs created or retained yet as project has not started. (Total jobs reported: 0)
Project Status: Not Started
This award's data was last updated on Sep. 23, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.
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