Prostaglandin G/H synthases (PGHS), commonly referred to as cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2), catalyze a key step in the synthesis of biologically active prostaglandins (PGs), the conversion of arachidonic acid (AA) into prostaglandin H<sub>2</sub> (PGH<sub>2</sub>). PGs have important functions in a variety of physiologic and pathologic settings, including inflammation, cardiovascular homeostasis, reproduction, and carcinogenesis. However an evaluation of prostaglandin function in early mammalian development has been difficult due to the maternal contribution of prostaglandins from the uterus. The emergence of zebrafish as a model system has begun to provide some insights into the roles of this signaling cascade during vertebrate development. In zebrafish, COX-1 derived prostaglandins are required for two distinct stages of development, namely during gastrulation and segmentation. During gastrulation, PGE<sub>2</sub> signaling promotes cell motility, without altering the cell shape or directional migration of gastrulating mesodermal cells via the G-protein coupled prostaglandin E<sub>2</sub> receptor (EP4). During segmentation, COX-1 signaling is also required for posterior mesoderm development, including the formation of vascular tube structures, angiogenesis of intersomitic vessels, and pronephros morphogenesis. We propose that deciphering the role for prostaglandin signaling in zebrafish development could delineate mechanistic details underlying various disease processes that result from perturbation of this pathway and uncover novel potential therapeutic targets.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VANDERBILT/oai:VANDERBILTETD:etd-03062006-135146 |
| Date | 28 April 2006 |
| Creators | Cha, Yong I. |
| Contributors | Lilianna Solnica-Krezel, Raymond N. DuBois, Sudhansu K. Dey, Chin Chiang, Lawrence J. Marnett, Susan R. Wente |
| Publisher | VANDERBILT |
| Source Sets | Vanderbilt University Theses |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/available/etd-03062006-135146/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to Vanderbilt University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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