Prostaglandins are also second messengers in the nervous system and their production may be coordinated with the production of a ceramide. It also appears to play a major role in embryonic nervous system development. In his senior research, Kevin Duwe found that GGF acts on Schwann cells by changing the intracellular pH. A certain second messenger system is implicated, but its role is not yet proven. In another collaborative project, research using more specific inhibitors of the suspected second messenger is needed. This project is an extension of my long-term interest in the light harvesting proteins.
All chlorophyll involved in photosynthesis is bound by proteins.
Small complexes of the proteins are isolated and their ability to associate with each other is studied. We are investigating how chemical changes on the surface of the proteins affect their association with each other. Students involved in these research projects will learn some of the basic biochemical techniques used in protein chemistry and membrane chemistry. Please feel free to drop by my office to obtain further information about these projects or to discuss other research ideas. All Rights Reserved.