Dr. Richard Farndale
University of Cambridge

Collagen receptors: Integrins and Glycoprotein VI

My work centers on the investigation of signaling pathways activated in human platelets by collagens of the blood vessel wall. These processes are fundamental to thrombosis and haemostasis, and our aim is to identify amino acid sequences in the collagens which recognize platelet receptors, to identify platelet receptors for collagen, and to understand the signaling consequences of their interaction.

The project will form a part of the above program, and will be concerned with identifying signaling properties of collagen-derived synthetic peptides. This will allow us to locate platelet-activatory motifs with the collagen sequence. Measurements to be made will include the activation of phospholipase A2, of protein kinase C, and of tyrosine kinases. The work will involve radiochemical assays, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and possibly immunoprecipitation. The laboratory is small: at the time of the visit, there will be 2 Ph.D. students, a Visiting Fellow and myself working within the program, with other students working on different topics sharing facilities with us.