"Cadmium, cell signaling and the cytoskeleton"

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Cadmium is a metallic element that has been accumulating in our environment since the beginning of the industrial age. It has no essential biological function and is highly toxic. One of its major targets is the kidney, and we have found that a type of kidney cell called the mesangial cell has unique responses to this metal. Cadmium affects the way signals operate in this cell, and affects the arrangement of the internal skeleton of the cell. It causes oxygen to be activated, and leads to cell death by several different pathways. Our research is directed towards understanding how cadmium exerts its toxic effects on cells. We are also using this system to learn more about fundamental interactions among signaling, cell structure, and cell death.