TÜBİTAK support for IBG Researchers' project
TÜBİTAK support for IBG Researchers' project
The project titled "Investigation of the Role of Keratan Sulfate Proteoglycans in the Central Nervous System Using a Chst6 Mutant Zebrafish Model," led by Dr. Gülçin Çakan Akdoğan from the Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (İBG), has been awarded funding under the TÜBİTAK 1001 - Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program.
Within the scope of this study, CHST6 gene mutants developed for a macular corneal dystrophy disease model will be used to investigate the neurological functions of keratan sulfate proteoglycans. These large molecules, found in the extracellular matrix, are believed to have both structural and signaling functions. In addition to their role in maintaining corneal transparency, they also play crucial roles in skeletal, intestinal, and brain tissues. However, their complex structure and numerous variations make it challenging to fully understand their functions.
The research team has developed a mutant zebrafish model in which a post-translational modification defect renders keratan sulfate proteoglycans nonfunctional. Through transcriptomic, proteomic, advanced microscopy, and behavioral analyses, the brains of these mutant fish will be examined. These studies are expected to provide valuable insights into central nervous system function and neurological disorders.