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BBSRC CASE Studentship: Nitric oxide and calcium signalling

ReferenceBBS/E/B/0000L961
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Dr Martin Bootman
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Institution Babraham Institute
DepartmentBabraham Institute Department
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 5,976
StatusCompleted
TypeInstitute Project
Start date 01/10/2003
End date 30/09/2006
Duration36 months

Abstract

Many of the effects of nitric oxide (NO) are mediated by changes in cellular calcium homeostasis, either directly through nitrosylation of proteins or through cGMP/PKG-dependent processes. It is well known that the production of nitric oxide requires an increase in intracellular calcium, which forms a complex with calmodulin to then stimulate NOS to generate NO. Less is known, however, about the importance of the feedback NO has on further intracellular calcium signals. In endothelia, NO has been shown to both increase and decrease calcium entry, mobilization and extrusion. Similarly, in cardiac muscle NO has been shown to have both positive and negative inotropic effects. The disparity of results is most likely due to differences between experimental models, cell lines and various NO donors selected by investigators. In general, there is a lack of systematic studies looking at the effect of NO on cellular calcium. This project proposes to undertake such a study with the following aims: 1.To examine the influence of exogenous NO on calcium entry and release by addition of NOate donors and over-expression of NOS. 2.To examine the influence of endogenous NO on calcium entry and release by inhibition of NOS with arginine-based inhibitors and possibly RNAi. 3.To examine the influence of endogenous and exogenous NO on calcium oscillations. 4.To examine the transcriptional control of NOS by calcium (using real-time PCR). 5.To investigate the regulation of NOS by calcium signals arising from different sources.

Summary

unavailable
Committee Closed Committee - Biochemistry & Cell Biology (BCB)
Research TopicsX – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative X - not in an Initiative
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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