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What’s Inside Cellular construction Function Research environment Research Views Responding to the reader Staying alive Stroke: brain attack Research outside the lab The road to commercialization 2005-2006 Lionel McLeod Scholarship winner AHFMR announces $48 million for health research Reader Resources Cellular construction The cells of our body may hold the key to understanding how allergic diseases such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis work. AHFMR Scholar Dr. Gary Eitzen is spreading the news that knowing how cells work can have important implications for treating allergic inflammation. Dr. Eitzen is an energetic scientist who talks with ease about his intricate research on cellular proteins known as small monomeric G proteins. “I like to think of G proteins as the foremen of the cells,” he begins. “If the foreman on a building site gets a call to finish the fifth floor, he tells the workers below him to get the job done. G proteins function in much the same way—in that they receive a ‘phone call’ from the surface of the cell that tells them to build something, and they signal to factors downstream to get the job done.” Function Analogy aside, G-protein function is quite complex, as these tiny proteins perform many functions. G proteins can do everything from inducing cellular growth to increasing communication between cells; they can also tell cells to secrete substances such as hormones and enzymes into their environment. Dr. Eitzen’s research focuses on how G proteins function in the cell secretion which is important during an immune response. “There are times when secretion is good,” he explains, “for instance, during a bacterial infection. The cells of the body secrete enzymes and antibodies to help fight the infection. In the case of allergic inflammation, secretion is bad because the cells are secreting enzymes when there is nothing there to fight. We ask a number of questions, such as: Who is making the call to the G protein? What G protein is taking the call, and what does the protein then do?” Learning the answers to these questions is helping Dr. Eitzen figure out how cells respond to allergic inflammation. This research can then be translated into better allergy therapies. Research environment His excitement is apparent when he talks about some of his recent discoveries. “One of the things we’ve found is that G proteins are involved in remodelling the cellular architecture known as the cytoskeleton. When the G proteins receive a signal to secrete, they basically move structures around so that it can be done effectively. When it comes to dealing with allergic inflammation, we may be able to target the cytoskeleton. If we can stop specific cytoskeletal rearrangement, we may be able to stop secretion and effectively block allergic inflammation.” Dr. Eitzen credits much of his success to the research environment at the University of Alberta. There is no hesitation in his voice as he talks about why he loves his career. “I am very much a bench scientist. I like to play with the toys in the lab and work on the bench. Having the ability to hand out projects to students and to actively work on those projects with them is very rewarding.” He also notes that the students are exceptionally innovative. “The calibre of students here at the University of Alberta is excellent, and I believe we have the best cell-biology program in the country because of it.” AHFMR Scholar Dr. Gary Eitzen is an assistant professor in the Department of Cell Biology at the University of Alberta. Dr. Eitzen’s work is also supported by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) and the AllerGen Allergy, Genes and Environment Network of Centres of Excellence. Selected publication Tedrick K, Trischuk T, Lehner R, Eitzen G. Enhanced membrane fusion in sterol-enriched vacuoles bypasses the Vrp1p requirement. Molecular Biology of the Cell 2004 Oct;15(10):4609-4621. Back to Top