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3 SF05102'U,- Thus, the destruction of elastin in emphysema miqht be as much due to a failure in the regulatory process of elastin synthesis as to a 1•.)ss of %(,l-AP. etc. (editorial comment, DHF/DS) . The site visitors feel that this program should be encouraged to continue with CTR support. It is imaginative and is one of the few pro- grams we support dealing with elastin synthesis and its regulation. D. Ford/D. Stone DHF/DS/mla

Tini COUNCIL FOR TOi3ACC0 RESEARCH-U.S.A.. INC. MEMORANDUM TO: Dr. S.C. Sommers and Staff FROt4: D.H. Ford and D. Stone Re: Site visit with Dr. J.A. Foster, Dept of Biology, Syracuse University, Oct. 18, 1983. Grant No. 1179 AR2 entitled "Involvement of elastic fibers in lung disease." History: Dr. Foster moved from Athens, Georgia somewhat over a year ago to assume the Chair in the Department of Biology. During this past year she appears to have developed a strong research group. Her initial CTR supported program dealt with the identification and synthesis of two tropoelastin soluble precursors of elastin. Her current direction emphasizes studies dealing with the genetic regulation of the synthesis of tropo- elastins (now possibly 3 in number) and the identity of the genes involved in regulation. Such regulation may involve studies of proteins associated with DNA which influence its expression. Once appropriate genetic probes have been developed, Dr. Foster is interested in determining to what degree genetic variatation might determine whether or not a person develops emphysema. Such studies would be undertaken using the genetic probes they are developing with DNA obtained from human reticulocytes. Staff: Dr. Foster has assembled a group of about 10 tech- nicians, graduate students and colleagues which has been sub- divided into 3 research groups, which overlap somewhat in their roles. i Group 1 is a molecular biology group directed by Celeste Riche, assisted by Mary Miller and Kathy Woges. They will focus on the development of DNA probes. EM and immunocytochemical expertise will be provided by Dr. Barbara Vertel (applies these techniques to the study of connective tissues.) Samples of her work were most impressive wherein the has demonstrated by immuno- cytochemistry the relationship between proteoglycans and collagen in relation to chondrocytes. Her techniques, once monoclonal antibodies are available, will be applied to the relationship between elastin tropoelastin and its microfibrillar protein. A Dr. Barbara Streeton (SUNY, Un. Syracuse Medical Center) will contribute by checking the specificity of the antibodies developed for the tropoelastin and microfibrillar proteins. Group 2 will be directed by Steve Horgan and be concerned with determining the chemistry and morphology of the micro- fibrillar protein associated with elastin- (note overlap with group 1), using embryonic and adult bovine lung. Dr. Vertel will also collaborate with this group.