Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are important signaling molecules produced in the body. They play major roles in the function as well as dysfunction of the nervous system, immune system and the circulatory system. NO and H2S are very reactive compounds that react with each other as well as with oxygen and biomolecules to form both stable and unstable derivatives that help mediate their physiological and pathological effects. However, whether the cellular processes initiated by NO and H2S are independent or augmented or counteracted by each other, is poorly understood. Dr. Mutus' research, funded by an NSERC Discovery Grant, investigates the interplay of NO and H2S signaling in vascular cells. He and his research group will develop novel new methods to monitor the levels of NO and H2S and to identify their protein adducts. These techniques will then be used in vascular cells to determine whether there is crosstalk between NO and H2S signaling by studying the activity and function of protein-targets as well as determining whether either molecule affects the storage or release of the other. In carrying out this research, four graduate students and up to fifteen undergraduate students will receive cross-disciplinary training at the interfaces of chemistry, biochemistry and cell biology. Furthermore, the proposed research will make knowledge transfer contributions by introducing new gold nanoparticle-based diagnostic methods for assessing cellular function and biomarker discovery.