Redox signaling in vascular cells

一氧化氮（NO）是体内产生的重要信号分子。 它在神经系统、免疫系统和循环系统的功能中起着重要作用。NO是一种非常活泼的化合物，与氧和生物分子反应，形成稳定和不稳定的NO衍生物，有助于介导其生理效应。 然而，这些稳定的NO-衍生物的形成方式，在整个循环系统中的运输和产生其生理效应知之甚少。Mutus博士的研究重点是循环系统。 他和他的研究小组将首先寻求开发新的方法和设备来监测NO衍生物及其细胞靶点的水平。 在第二部分中，这些技术/装置将用于红细胞和内皮细胞，以了解NO及其衍生物在细胞内和细胞间相互转化和运输的方式，以调节身体远处的血流。 在进行这项研究时，四名研究生和多达十五名本科生将在化学和细胞生物学的接口接受跨学科培训。 此外，拟议的研究将通过引入新的基于黄金的诊断设备和评估血液功能的方法来促进知识转移。

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signaling molecule produced in the body. It plays a major role in the function of the nervous system, immune system and the circulatory system. NO is a very reactive compound that reacts with oxygen and with biomolecules to form both stable and unstable NO-derivatives that help mediate its physiological effects. However, the manner in which these stable NO-derivatives are formed, transported throughout the circulatory system and produce their physiological effects are poorly understood. The focus of Dr. Mutus' research funded by an NSERC Discovery Grant is on the circulatory system. He and his research group will first seek to develop novel new methods and devices to monitor the levels of NO-derivatives and their cellular targets. In the second part, these techniques/devices will be used in red blood cells and endothelial cells to understand the manner in which NO and its derivatives are interconverted and transported within and between cells to regulate blood flow in far reaches of the body. In carrying out this research, the four graduate students and up to fifteen undergraduate students will receive cross-disciplinary training at the interface of chemistry and cell biology. Furthermore, the proposed research will make knowledge transfer contributions by introducing new gold-based diagnostic devices and methods for assessing blood function.