Developmental Dynamics Highlights Dr. Maria Kukuruzinska’s Research

New work from Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine (BUGSDM) Professor and Director of the Predoctoral Research Program Dr. Maria Kukuruzinska’s laboratory is featured in the November 2008 issue of Developmental Dynamics.

The paper titled, “Diverse roles of E-cadherin in the morphogenesis of the submandibular gland: Insights into the formation of acinar and ductal structures,” describes for the first time that acinar and ductal cell fates are determined early in submandibular gland (SMG) embryonic development. Furthermore, it shows that branching morphogenesis is driven, in part, by the function of E-cadherin, an epithelial cell-cell adhesion receptor. In addition to being required for branching and cell proliferation, E-cadherin serves as a survival signal for differentiating ductal cells during lumen formation. By garnering information for both acinar and ductal cell differentiation, these studies provide a basis of how salivary gland repair and regeneration should be coordinated.

One of the authors and major contributors to these studies was Sheede Khalil DMD 12, who worked in Dr. Kukuruzinska’s lab prior to initiating her dental studies at BUGSDM. "I am especially proud of the collaboration of students and faculty conducting this research," said Dean Jeffrey Hutter. " I am gratified to see the fruits of this collaboration garner the attention it deserves."

The paper is available online at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/121417882/ABSTRACT.