Equilibrative nucleoside transporters: Post-translational regulation and protein interactions

我们的身体是由称为“细胞”的单个单位组成的。 每个细胞都有一个专门的功能。 细胞有一层外膜，对许多物质形成屏障。 为了使细胞从血液中摄取它们生存和生长所需的营养物质，它们必须依赖于细胞膜中的特定分子（蛋白质）来促进这些营养物质进入细胞。 我们正在研究一种特殊类型的这些“运输”蛋白质参与细胞的摄取和释放的核苷。核苷是一类用作DNA和RNA构建模块的物质，对于控制细胞功能的许多其他方面也很重要。细胞在不同时间需要不同水平的核苷，并且必须适应其环境以确保细胞内外的核苷浓度维持在特定水平。我们正在研究这种细胞适应过程。我们的研究集中在细胞如何调节“核苷转运蛋白”的数量和活性。已知核苷转运蛋白活性的增加或减少可改变流向组织的血流，保护心脏和脑组织免受短暂性缺血发作期间的损伤，并改变癫痫发作的持续时间。 核苷转运蛋白对于许多抗癌和抗病毒药物的活性也很重要，这些药物通过这些转运蛋白进入肿瘤细胞或病毒感染的细胞。 更好地了解身体如何调节核苷转运蛋白将提高我们开发更好的治疗心力衰竭，癫痫发作和中风等疾病的能力。 这些研究还将增强我们对细胞如何调节其代谢以应对环境影响的理解。

Our body is made up of individual units called 'cells'.  Each cell has a specialized function.  Cells have an outer membrane that forms a barrier to many substances.  In order for cells to take up nutrients from the blood that they need to survive and grow, they must rely on specific molecules (proteins) in the cell membrane to facilitate the passage of these nutrients into the cell.  We are studying one particular type of these "transport" proteins involved in the cellular uptake and release of nucleosides. Nucleosides are a class of substances that are used as the building blocks for DNA and RNA, and are also important for controlling many other aspects of cell function. Cells require different levels of nucleosides at different times, and must adapt to their environment to ensure that the nucleoside concentrations, both inside and outside the cell, are maintained at specific levels. We are studying this cellular adaptation process. Our studies are focused on how cells regulate the number and activity of "nucleoside transporters". An increase or decrease in nucleoside transporter activity has been known to modify blood flow to tissues, protect the heart and brain tissue from damage during transient ischemic episodes, and modify the duration of seizures.  Nucleoside transporters are also important for the activity of a number of anti-cancer and anti-viral drugs that get into the tumour cells or virus-infected cells via these transporters.  A better understanding of how the body regulates nucleoside transporters will enhance our ability to develop better therapies for conditions such as heart failure, seizures, and stroke.  These studies will also enhance our understanding of how the cell regulates its metabolism in response to environmental influences.