Maternal immune activation remodeling of offspring glycosaminoglycan sulfation patterns during neurodevelopment

Summary

This research project investigates how maternal immune activation (MIA) during prenatal or postnatal development affects offspring neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) by altering chondroitin and dermatan sulfate-glycosaminoglycan (CS/DS-GAG) sulfation patterns in the brain.

What they want

The project aims to determine how MIA exposure affects spatiotemporal expression of offspring CS/DS-GAGs and link these changes to NDDs. It will mechanistically investigate how MIA-induced changes in CS/DS-GAGs influence glycan-protein interactions involved in neurodevelopment. Additionally, it proposes to engineer a state-of-the-art nanopore sequencing technology for single-molecule sequencing of biological CS/DS-GAGs to discover glycan-protein binding elements.

Deliverables

Determination of how MIA exposure affects spatiotemporal expression of offspring CS/DS-GAGs and their link to NDDs.
Mechanistic investigation of MIA-induced changes in offspring CS/DS-GAGs and their influence on glycan-protein interactions in neurodevelopment.
Development of a state-of-the-art nanopore sequencing technology for single-molecule sequencing of biological CS/DS-GAGs to discover glycan-protein binding elements.

Technical requirements

Laser capture microdissection coupled mass spectrometry methodology (LMD-LC-MS/MS)
Nanopore sequencing technology for single-molecule sequencing of biological CS/DS-GAGs