Dioscuri Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Metabolic Diseases

Provider

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports

Programme

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Call for proposals

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Main participants

Masarykova univerzita / Přírodovědecká fakulta

Contest type

M2 - International cooperation

Contract ID

MSMT-22090/2023-5

Project name in Czech

Dioscuri Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Metabolic Diseases

Annotation in Czech

The continued health of many of our organs, including the skeleton, relies on the function of specialized stem cells (SCs). These SCs reside in NICHES that support their long-term maintenance. Disruption of the NICHE, due to aging, injury, or genetic mutations, can lead to declines in SCs and a failure to maintain and repair tissues. Compared to our understanding of the SCs that maintain and repair our skeleton, we know much less about the cell types that constitute their NICHE. My prior large-scale genomics studies have uncovered a novel NICHE cell type for the skeleton. Intriguingly, these NICHE cells are defined by a unique metabolic profile, in particular enzymes for Phenylalanine/Tyrosine (Phe/Tyr) metabolism and glycogen synthesis. Mutations in Phe/Tyr metabolism genes lead to skeletal diseases in humans, HGD (Alkaptonuria, aka "black bone disease") and PAH (Phenylketonuria), suggesting a critical role of metabolism in NICHE cells to support the SC that maintain the skeleton. I have generated the first animal model for Alkaptonuria; hgd mutant zebrafish that fully recapitulates the black bone phenotype of human patients. I will establish a research centre that leverages the powerful genomic, genetic, and high-resolution imaging strengths of zebrafish to test the roles of metabolism in SC maintenance. Findings from my proposed studies will inform future therapies aimed at correcting metabolic diseases and restoring SC function and skeletal health by modulating the NICHE.

R&D category

ZV - Basic research

OECD FORD - main branch

10601 - Cell biology

OECD FORD - secondary branch

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OECD FORD - another secondary branch

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CEP - equivalent branches <br>(according to the <a href="http://www.vyzkum.cz/storage/att/E6EF7938F0E854BAE520AC119FB22E8D/Prevodnik_oboru_Frascati.pdf">converter</a>)

EA - Morphology and cytology

Realization period - beginning

Jul 1, 2024

Realization period - end

Jun 30, 2029

Project status

B - Running multi-year project

Latest support payment

Oct 4, 2024

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Data delivery code

CEP25-MSM-LV-R

Data delivery date

Feb 20, 2025

Total approved costs

35,504 thou. CZK

Public financial support

32,515 thou. CZK

Other public sources

0 thou. CZK

Non public and foreign sources

2,989 thou. CZK