Research Interests

We are seeking to understand how cells "pre-arrange" multiple signaling components in GPCR signal transduction cascades and are focused on caveolae and lipid rafts as centers for such organization. Our long-term focus is to understand how such compartmentation impacts cellular response in a physiological setting.

Using molecular cloning, expression of cloned signaling proteins, and a variety of cell biological and biochemical approaches, we examine signaling mechanisms of G protein-coupled receptors. We are interested in the organization of signaling microdomains in the plasma membrane, especially in lipid raft/caveolin-rich regions, in which various receptors, G-proteins and effectors, particularly certain isoforms of adenylyl cyclase, localize. We seek to understand how such compartmentation impacts on cellular responses with the goal of developing novel gene therapy strategies to modulate cellular responses through changes in expression of limiting components in the signaling pathways. Adenylyl cyclase is one such limiting component. We study airway smooth muscle cells, bronchial epithelial cells and pulmonary fibroblasts.

Read about how we are searching for new asthma therapies.