The physiological importance of phospholipase D signalling

激素、神经递质和生长因子通过激活细胞中的过程来调节身体的功能，这些过程产生的信号控制细胞的生长、分裂、移动或分泌的方式。其中一个信号通路涉及磷脂酶D的激活，该酶产生信使磷脂酸。对组织培养细胞的研究表明，这一途径在许多反应中都被激活，并参与了炎症如何激活、细胞如何运动以及如何分泌因子等过程。有必要了解这些通路是如何调控的，以及这一信号事件所扮演的确切角色，因为调控的扭曲与炎症性疾病和包括癌症在内的其他疾病有关。理解这一生理作用的唯一方法是制造和研究转基因小鼠模型。我们将从小鼠身上分离细胞，从而确定该信号的作用和调节。这项工作有可能为未来的治疗干预确定目标。巴普拉汉姆研究所有一个广泛的科学和社会方案，涉及到与当地学校和大学的接触，并与当地和国家媒体合作。2007年，巴普拉汉姆荣获大企业奖。因为它与学校的合作？这是由英国广播公司和欧盟等机构赞助的比赛。所有巴普拉汉姆的科学家都积极参与了这项计划，要求每个小组负责人每年花2天时间进行某种形式的公共参与活动。Wakelam实验室接待暑期和工作体验学生，协助其他公共活动，并积极参与访问小学和中学，试图激发孩子们对科学的热情，特别是研究，这包括解释在研究中使用动物的重要性。

Hormones, neurotransmitters and growth factors regulate the body s functions by activating processes in cells that produce signals that control the way a cell grows, divides, moves or secretes. One of these signalling pathways involves activation of the enzyme phospholipase D which produces the messenger phosphatidic acid. Studies in cells in tissue culture have suggested that this pathway is activated in many responses and is involved in processes such as how inflammation is activated, how cells move and how they secrete factors. There is a need to understand how these pathways are regulated and the precise roles played by this signalling event, since distortion of the regulation is implicated in inflammatory disorders and other diseases including cancer. The only way to understand this physiological role is to generate and study a genetically modified mouse model. We will isolate cells from the mice and thereby characterise the role and regulation of the signalling. This work has the potential to identify targets for future therapeutic intervention.The Babraham Institute has an extensive Science and Society programme, involving outreach to local schools and colleges and work with local and national media. In 2007 Babraham won the ?Large Business Award? for its work with schools ? a competition sponsored by the BBC and EU amongst others. All Babraham scientists are actively involved in this programme, with each group leader required to spend 2 days/year on some form of public engagement activity. The Wakelam lab hosts summer and work experience students and assists with other public engagement events as well as being actively involved in visiting primary and secondary schools to attempt to enthuse children about science in general and research in particular, this includes explaining the importance of animal use in research.