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Cambridge Cardiovascular

 

Research

Intracellular signalling pathways

Regulated changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration are the principal means by which contraction of vascular smooth muscle is controlled, and drugs that target Ca2+ signalling pathways are widely used to treat hypertension. Other signalling pathways, notably those regulated by cyclic AMP, modulate the responses of vascular smooth to contractile stimuli by both regulating Ca2+ signals and the effects they have on contractile proteins.

Building on our interests in IP3 receptors, which are the most widely expressed intracellular Ca2+ channels, we are examining the interplay between cAMP and Ca2+ in human aortic smooth muscle cells by examining responses to receptors that evoke IP3 and cAMP formation. A major aim is to understand how these diffusible messengers are delivered from receptors in the plasma membrane to their intracellular targets.

Publications

Key publications: 

Most recent publications are listed on PubMed.

Structural and functional conservation of key domains in InsP3 and ryanodine receptors. Seo, M-D, Velamakanni, S, Ishiyama, N, Stathopulos, PB, Rossi, AM, Khan, SA, Dale, P, Li, C, Ames, JB, Ikura, M & Taylor, CW (2012) Nature 483, 108-112.

Endogenous signalling pathways and caged-IP3 evoke Ca2+ puffs at the same abundant immobile intracellular sites. Keebler, MV & Taylor CW (2017) J Cell Sci. 130, 3728-3739.

Ca2+ signals initiate at immobile IP3 receptors adjacent to ER-plasma membrane junctions where STIM evokes Ca2+ entry. Thillaiappan, NB, Chavda, AP, Tovey, SC, Prole, DL & Taylor CW (2017) Nat. Comm. 8, 1505.

Cyclic AMP recruits a discrete intracellular Ca2+ stores by unmasking hypersensitive IP3 receptors. Konieczny, V, Tovey, SC, Mataragka, S, Prole, DL & Taylor, CW (2017) Cell Rep. 18, 711-722.

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors and their protein partners as signalling hubs. Prole, DL & Taylor, CW (2016) J. Physiol. I594, 2849-2866.

Professor of Cellular Pharmacology
Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator
Professor Colin  Taylor

Contact Details

Affiliations

Classifications: 
Person keywords: 
cell signalling
calcium signalling