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| RUTH CHIQUET-EHRISMANN |
| Cell communication in growth control
and differentiation |
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| Normal development depends on cell-cell and
cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions.
Cancer cells are impaired in cell adhesion
and have lost the ability to respond properly
to their environment, which results in overgrowth and metastatic behaviour. In contrast
to the ECM of normal tissues, tumour ECM
contains markedly increased amounts of
tenascin-C and less fibronectin. Therefore,
we investigate the anti-adhesive and tumour
growth-promoting function of the ECM
protein family of tenascins. We analyse the
interaction between tenascins and fibronectin
and the intracellular signalling pathways in-
duced by cell adhesion to these ECM proteins.
We have discovered a novel cell surface re-
ceptor family that we have termed teneurins.
These are transmembrane proteins with a
cytoplasmic domain involved in signal transduction and a large extracellular part involved
in cell-cell interactions. We are studying their
function in adhesion signalling that regulates
cell survival, proliferation and differentiation.
We use molecular and cell biological techniques with cell cultures and with chicken and
Caenorhabditis elegans for in vivo studies. |
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For further information, please contact
Administrative Assistant Isabella Bogdal
(+41 61 6976653) |
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To contact FMI members directly, click
here for the FMI Directory. |
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