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Investigation of calcium signalling in sarcoplasmic reticulum of cardiac myocytes using a novel targeted reporter

Reference	BB/C007697/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Shireen Davies
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Julian Dow, Professor Godfrey Smith
Institution	University of Glasgow
Department	Institute of Biomedical & Life Sciences
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	253,582
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/07/2005
End date	30/06/2008
Duration	36 months

Abstract

Calcium signalling plays a central role in all cells and tissues, so the monitoring of intracellular calcium events is of major importance in both life sciences research and drug development. The critical contribution of intracellular compartments to calcium signalling in all cells has led to the development of methods in which calcium signals in particular organelles can be assayed. To this end, we have successfully developed calcium reporters to monitor calcium events in organelles for use both in mammalian and insect cell lines and in living organisms (the fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster). We plan to extend this analysis to other cells and tissues, in particular mammalian heart (cardiac) cells in culture. Heart failure is the most common cause of death in Western societies. Furthermore, disruption of calcium signalling in heart cells from failing hearts is the basis of a weakened heartbeat and arrhythmias. Thus, increasing our understanding of the intricacies of calcium signalling in heart cells is extremely important. We intend to develop improved reporters for use specifically in cardiac cells, and in so doing, will investigate cardiac cell calcium signalling in some detail, and will create a novel tool with which biomedical researchers can monitor calcium signalling in this medically-relevant cell-type. This tool may also play a significant role in the development of new drugs.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	Technology and Methods Development
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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