Electrophysiology and imaging lab

我的研究利用电生理学、细胞成像和细胞培养来研究氧气供应对干细胞行为的影响。例如，在大脑中，细胞存在于从2%O2到10%O2的氧气环境中。然而，在研究环境中，细胞通常受到95%的空气(21%O2)的影响。因此，很明显，实验中使用的氧气水平和体内细胞经历的氧气数值是不一致的。不同水平的O2具有改变蛋白质功能和基因表达的能力，因此可以影响干细胞的行为。蛋白质功能的改变会导致钙离子的进入，进而启动对干细胞生长发育相关基因的调控，使其转化为不同的细胞类型。由于氧气水平具有改变细胞活动的能力(例如蛋白质功能和基因调控)，因此确定这些细胞在体内的典型行为非常重要。

My research utilizes electrophysiology, cell imaging, and cell culturing to investigate the effects of oxygen availability on the behaviour of stem cells. For example, in the brain, cells exist in oxygen (O2) environments that range from 2% O2 to 10% O2. However, in the research setting, cells are often subjected to 95% air (21% O2). Thus it is apparent that the experimental O2 levels used and O2 values experienced by cells in the body are inconsistent. Different levels of O2 have the capability of modifying protein function and gene expression and thus can affect stem cell behaviour. Alterations in protein function can lead to entry of calcium, which in turn can initiate regulation of genes involved in stem cell growth and development into different cell types. Since O2 levels have the capacity to modify cellular activity (e.g. protein function and gene regulation) it is important to determine how these cells typically behave in the body.