Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz

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Abstract: Development, maintainance and function of the vascular system requires the ability of endothelial cells to switch between a quiescent, differentiated and a proliferating phenotype, which is able to migrate and form novel capillary tube networks as a key process of angiogenesis. This "angiogenic switch" plays a pivotal role in variety of diseases and is controlled by stimuli that are associated with phospholipase C-mediated Ca2+ entry. Canoncial transient receptor potential (TRPC) proteins are typical downstream targets of phospholipase C signalling providing a route for Ca2+ entry due to formation of homo- and/or heteromeric cation channel complexes.
So far, the role of TRPC channels as determinants of endothelial proliferation, migration and cell-cell adhesion is elusive. The aims in this project are: *To determine which TRPC channel complexes are involved in Ca2+ signalling of proliferation and quiescent endothelial cells, *to characterize the cellular localization and the protein interaction partners of TRPC proteins in these endothelial phenotypes, and to analyze mechanisms of cellular trafficking, assembly and/or disassembly of endothelial TRPC complexes in response to angiogenic stimuli, *to test the concept that specific TRPC signalplexes and processes of cellular TRPC recruitment govern endothelial proliferation, migration and/or integrity of cell-cell junctions.

Beteiligte MUG-Organisationseinheiten: Lehrstuhl für Molekularbiologie und Biochemie

Gefördert durch: FWF, Fonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Wien, Österreich