Identification of peptide sequences and protein domains derived from the glycoprotein tenascin-C for the fabrication of bioactive hydrogels to study neural stem/progenitor cell behavior in 2D and 3D cell experiments.

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Andreas Faissner; Professor Dr. Ralf Weberskirch
• Subject Area: Polymer Materials
• Term: from 2018 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 397037958

In our previous work we have shown that the glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix tenascin-C (Tnc) modulates the cell cycle length of NSPCs in the developing embryonic spinal cord. We have preliminary evidence that adult NSPCs behave differently on purified Tnc-substrates and propose that neural stem cell populations are heterogeneous with regard to their response towards their ECM niche microenvironments. Based on our results, we submit a project that addresses the structural features of Tnc and aims at the identification of derived domains and peptide sequence motifs that affect NSPC maintenance and differentiation. After the successful identification of protein domains and peptide sequences they will be used to fabricate artificial hydrogels with well-defined composition and properties. In 2-dimensional and 3-dimensioanl cell experiments we aim to assess how these peptides and protein domains affect the behaviour of NSPCs. In this context, the combination with other hydrogel characteristics such as stiffness, charge and the presence of further peptides will be of great interest since these properties can act synergistically on NSPC behaviour. The aim of the research proposal is to identify an optimal set of hydrogel parameters and functionalisation that is allows to control NSPC maintenance and differentiation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants