This is is a proposal on phosphoinositide research that is currently an area of great interest in relation to second messenger models both in animal and plant cells. The Principal Investigator has already demonstrated the importance of phospholipase and phosphoinositide in membrane fusion. The current project will focus on membrane lysophatidylinositol 4- triphosphate (LPIP), its synthetic pathways and catabolism, its functional significance and regulatory mechanism. Biochemical, immunochemical and molecular techniques will be used to achieve the objectives. Since the project will help identify parameters that promote membrane fusion, it could have important ramifications in biotechnology.
