LAY TITLE: Understanding the mechanisms that stimulate the onset of labour

Numerous drugs and hormones have an effect on the womb to stimulate or inhibit contractions. Some of these have a natural role, whereas others are used, often unsuccessfully, to stop preterm labour or induce labour at term. Many of these agents act through proteins (receptors) on the cell surface that activate other proteins (G proteins) within the cell. The G proteins are themselves regulated by RGS proteins (regulators of G protein signalling). The clinical attraction of regulating G proteins is that they mediate the effects of many drugs and hormones that affect contraction.

This project will investigate the types and functions of RGS proteins which are present in the womb and will provide information about the role of RGS proteins in regulating contractions, both for induction at term and for the treatment of preterm labour.

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