The long-term goal of our research is to understand the molecular mechanisms by which phospholipase D (PLD) 1) regulates the G-protein coupled signaling cascade critical for phototransduction and 2) mediates the redirection of Golgi-derived vesicles for membrane biogenesis during cellularization in Drosophila melanogaster. PLD hydrolyzes phosphatidylcholine to generate the lipid messenger, phosphatidic acid (PA). In mammalian systems, PLD has diverse functions, including vesicle trafficking, membrane formation, cytoskeletal rearrangements, and exocytosis. In yeast, PLD plays a critical role in membrane biogenesis during meiotic prospore membrane formation.
The Specific Aims of this proposal are as follows: 1) determine the sub-cellular localization of dPLD in the eye and probe its role through gain- and loss-of-function analysis, 2) use mutant complementation to dissect genetically the function of dPLD in phototransduction, and 3) use marker co-localization, mutant complementation, and loss-of-function analysis to determine the function of PLD in cellularization.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Individual Predoctoral NRSA for M.D./Ph.D. Fellowships (ADAMHA) (F30)
Project #
5F30NS046931-02
Application #
6804520
Study Section
NST-2 Subcommittee (NST)
Program Officer
Mamounas, Laura
Project Start
2003-08-21
Project End
Budget Start
2004-08-21
Budget End
2005-08-20
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$28,914
Indirect Cost
Name
State University New York Stony Brook
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804878247
City
Stony Brook
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11794
LaLonde, Mary; Janssens, Hilde; Yun, Suyong et al. (2006) A role for Phospholipase D in Drosophila embryonic cellularization. BMC Dev Biol 6:60
LaLonde, Mary M; Janssens, Hilde; Rosenbaum, Erica et al. (2005) Regulation of phototransduction responsiveness and retinal degeneration by a phospholipase D-generated signaling lipid. J Cell Biol 169:471-9