dani behonick dani.behonick@ucsf.edu

Former Graduate Student: Ph.D. awarded June 2007 Bone formation by endochondral ossification is a complex process involving the coordinated activity of numerous distict cell types and resulting in the production of an organ that is ultimately a large piece of calcified extracellular matrix (ECM).   Repair of skeletal elements largely recapitulates development, although there are distinct aspects of each process.  The protease MMP13 has been shown to play an important role in development by endochondral ossification although the exact mechanism by which it acts is still poorly understood.  Current studies look to elaborate upon our understanding of its mode of action as well as its function in skeletal repair.