B.A.- Biology, N.Y. Univ. 1974

Ph.D. - Pharmacology, State Univ. N.Y.,Downstate Medical Ctr. 1979

Postdoctoral, Brown Univ. 1982

Assistant Professor, Univ. Miami 1985-1991

Associate Professor, Univ. Miami 1991-present.

 

Research focus is on the mechanisms by which receptors and G proteins regulate phospholipase C-ß activity. Phospholipase C-ß hydrolyzes a membrane lipid, phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate, resulting in the generation of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. These important intracellular mediators regulate the release of intracellular Ca2+ and activate protein kinase C. Both Ca2+ and protein kinase C regulate many aspects of cell function. A biochemical and molecular approach is being used in this laboratory to define the interactions between receptors, G proteins and phospholipase C-ß as well as the role of protein kinases in regulating these interactions. These studies will delineate the regulation of this signalling pathway in normal cells and provide the basis for the development of pharmacological tools which can alter this signalling pathway. The role of the G protein regulated phospholipase C-beta1 signaling pathway and protein kinase C in cell proliferation and apoptosis is under study.

 

Litosch, I. Regulation of phospholipase C-beta activity by phosphatidic acid: isoform dependence, role of protein kinase C, and G protein subunits. Biochemistry 42: 1618-1623, 2003.

Litosch, I., Novel mechanisms for feedback regulation of phospholipase C-beta activity. IUBMB 54: 253-260, 2002.

Litosch, I., Phosphatidic acid modulates G protein regulation of phospholipase C-b1 activity in membranes. Cellular Signaling 14: 259-63, 2002.

Litosch I. Regulation of phospholipase C-beta(1) activity by phosphatidic acid. Biochemistry 39: 7736-43, 2000.

Litosch, I. G-protein betagamma subunits antagonize protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation and inhibition of phospholipase C-beta1. Biochem. J. 326: 701-707, 1997.

Litosch, I., G Protein inhibition of phospholipase C-beta1 in membranes: Role of G protein beta-gamma subunits. Biochem. J. 319: 173-178, 1996.

Litosch, I., and Xie, H. G protein activity in solubilized membrane preparations. in G Proteins (ed. P. Roche), Academic Press, p. 50-57, 1996.

Litosch, I. Protein kinase C inhibits the Ca dependent stimulation of phospholipase C-beta1 in vitro. Receptors and Signal Transduction 6: 87-98, 1996.