# Characterization of Tagged Type IV Collagen

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2023 · $444,125

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Mutations in type IV collagen alpha 1 (COL4A1) and alpha 2 (COL4A2) are an important cause of monogenic
cerebral small vessel disease and are also significantly associated with cerebral small vessel disease hallmarks
in large-scale genome wide association studies underscoring their importance for general cerebrovascular health
in humans. The broad goal of our research is to understand the biological functions COL4A1 and COL4A2 in the
extracellular matrix and determine the mechanisms by which they cause genetic and acquired cerebrovascular
disease and disfunction. The specific purpose of this proposal is to validate a potentially powerful tool that will
enable unveiling of tissue specific and temporal changes in collagen deposition and degradation.
The inability to distinguish cell type specific or temporal changes to the extracellular matrix constitutes a
significant obstacle for understanding a fundamental aspect of tissue biology. To address this barrier, we
developed a mouse line in which COL4A1 is fused with switchable fluorescent proteins for isoform-specific
visualization and biochemical tags for differential affinity purification. This simple but powerful tool will enable
unprecedented characterization of spatial, temporal, biochemical and biophysical parameters of ECM that are
currently impossible to achieve. If the detailed validations outlined in this proposal are successful, we will have
developed a transformative tool that will provide significant insight into a fundamental aspect of tissue biology
and that can be applied to every organ of the body in normal development or in pathological settings.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10724541
- **Project number:** 1R21NS133610-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Douglas Gould
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $444,125
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-06-15 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10724541

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10724541, Characterization of Tagged Type IV Collagen (1R21NS133610-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10724541. Licensed CC0.

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