Dissecting inositol pyrophosphates signalling

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My research is focused on the study of inositol phosphates, a large family of small molecules that regulate many essential and basic functions in all living organisms, including heart muscle contraction, the release of neurotransmitters in the brain, mammalian cell survival and the migration of cells of the immune system. Two new members of this family (called IP7 and IP8) have the exceptionally unusual property of containing high energy Pyro-phosphate bonds. This is similar to the high energy phosphate bond found in ATP, the main energy storage molecule found in all cells. Like ATP, IP7 and IP8 are also found in all cells analyzed so far, ranging from fungi to humans, but very little is known about their physiological functions. The release of energy from their high energy bonds could, potentially, drive a variety of fundamental biochemical processes and the goal of my research is to identify the physiological role of this novel and exciting class of high-energy molecules.