RESEARCH
Multicellular organisms such as humans consist of many cells which have distinct roles.
Effective and accurate communication between the cells is important for the regulation of different physiological functions.
Intercellular communication starts with the binding of secreted ligands or surface molecules from donor cells with receptors in acceptor cells. Each cell contains thousands of kinds of protein molecules having various cellular responses and functions.
These proteins interact specifically with each other and sometimes form complexes in response to certain signals. Considering the dynamism and complexity of the assemblies formed between protein molecules and cells, a multidimensional and conceptual ‘molecular & cellular network’ may exist in living organisms.
The Intracellular network acts as a mediator of signal transduction by triggering specific connections and dynamic changes in cell proteins. Dysfunctions in the system of communications through the damage of biosignal networks may cause cancer, diabetes and neurological diseases. Therefore, Identification of the new regulation mechanism and study for signal transduction in molecular, cellular and organism level are required to understand the biosignal network generally.
BioSignal Network Laboratory
Phospholipase C (PLC) is one of the most important signaling molecule which is activated by various receptors occupied with their cognate ligands. When activated, PLC induces hydrolysis of PIP2 into well-known second messengers DAG and IP3, which in turn plays crucial roles in diverse physiological events.
To date, there are 13 PLC isozymes identified and they are classified into 6 class according to their secondary structure : (PLC-β, -γ, -δ, -ε, -ζ, -η). The most interesting feature is that each PLC isozyme is involved in different signal pathway and therefore affects different physiological events even though it has same enzymatic activity.
In our lab, we therefore investigate diverse signal pathways in which each PLC isozyme is involved at molecular, cellular, and animal level. This will help us to understand Biosignal Network in organism.
To elucidate signal networks in which PLC is involved, we 1) try to identify novel PLC-related protein at the molecular and the cellular level, we 2) try to elucidate the functional meaning of cellular signaling.
Finally, to understand the role of PLC in animal level, we 3) generate and analyze the PLC knock-out mice.
The recent research interests are to identify the physiological role of each PLC isozymes in cancer progression, neurological and metabolic disorders. Our final goal is to elucidate the molecular mechanism of diverse diseases progression and help development of novel drug treating them.
Phospholipase C-mediated signaling
