Research / Clinical Summary

Seth Field, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Medicine Cancer Biology Program Contact by Email Visit the Website

Dr. Field's laboratory studies the functions of the phosphoinositides, a group of particularly interesting membrane molecules that function in intracellular signaling. They function as second messengers in response to extracellular signals such as growth factors, and as internal signals to specify the organelle identity of intracellular membranes. It is clear that many aspects of the functions of the phosphoinositides remain poorly understood.

Field is taking two general approaches to better understand phosphoinositide function. The first approach uses live-cell imaging experiments with GFP reporters for each phosphoinositide to identify novel aspects of their regulation as a way to provide clues to function. For example, using this approach he and his colleagues have identified a novel function for PtdIns(4,5)P2 at the cleavage furrow during mitotic cytokinesis.

The second approach involves a proteome-wide screen for phosphoinositide binding proteins to give them a more complete understanding of the direct targets of the phosphoinositides. They have identified numerous novel candidate phosphoinositide binding proteins and are investigating the function of many of the most interesting of these.

The two approaches are highly synergistic. Together, they hope to shed new light on phosphoinositide function, identifying novel signaling pathways and their component proteins. These can then serve as new candidate therapeutic targets in the many pathophysiologic states that are mediated by phosphoinositides.

Update Summary via ONcLINE (password required)
Click here to request a new or forgotten password