Description of Research Expertise

Research in the laboratory is elucidating the positive and negative signalling mechanisms for phagocytic cell functions such as degranulation, release of toxic oxygen species, and apoptosis. We are investigating a family of structurally related, lipid-dependent protein kinases, protein kinase C, and their role(s) in signal transduction for oxygen radical generation and degranulation. We are defining how unique structural features of particular isotypes relates to their interaction with other signalling elements and to their specific roles in cell function(s). Antisense strategies are used to selectively deplete discrete PKC isotypes in order to evaluate their roles in signal transduction.