Faculty Research Summary: MICHAEL F. SHEFF

Fibroblast Growth; Structure/Function of Proteoglycanase

Ph.D., Sheffield University, England, 1957. Associate Professor of Pathology. Associate Biochemist, The Miriam Hospital. 331-8500, x4274.

Research Summary: Two lines of research are being followed. First, in vitro tissue culture studies of fibroblast growth as affected by extracts of young and old mouse muscle to be followed by characterization of the growth/inhibitory factors shown to be present. Second, studies on the proteoglycanase present in human articular cartilage with the goal of purifying sufficient quantities for measurement of its kinetics and sequencing of its amino-acid structure. Concurrent studies on this enzyme are designed to find non-toxic inhibitors of its cartilage degrading activity. The laboratory is also interested in the physical chemistry and polymeric forms of the technicium methyl diphosphonates, as difference in these structures may result in differential tissue binding of this commonly used nuclear medicine imaging agent.

Publication: Sapolsky, A., C. Malemud and M. Sheff, 1987. The proteoglycanase from human cartilage and cultured rabbit chondrocytes and its relation to osteoarthritis. J. Rheumatol. 14:33-35.

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