Ewch i’r prif gynnwys
Karl Swann

Professor Karl Swann

Pennaeth yr Is-adran Biofeddygaeth

Ysgol y Biowyddorau

Email
SwannK1@caerdydd.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 29208 79009
Campuses
Adeilad Syr Martin Evans, Rhodfa'r Amgueddfa, Caerdydd, CF10 3AX
Users
Ar gael fel goruchwyliwr ôl-raddedig

Trosolwyg

I am interested in cell signalling and metabolism during animal fertilization and early embryo development.  I use live cell imaging methods including those based on fluorescence and chemiluminescence.

Selected projects are:

1. The role and mechanism of action of PLCzeta in causing Ca2+ oscillation in eggs at fertilization

2. The relationship between Ca2+ and mitochondrial ATP production in eggs

3. Lipid droplets and lipid metabolism in eggs and early embryos using CARS microscopy

Roles

  • Head of Biomedicine Division
  • Deputy Module Leader and teaching on BI2331 Physiology
  • Teaching on BI2231 Cell Biology
  • Supervision of projects for Final Year Undergraduate and Masters students

Cyhoeddiad

2023

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2021

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Articles

Book sections

Conferences

Ymchwil

A major theme in my research is to answer the fundamental question of how the sperm activates the egg at fertilization. At fertilization in all mammals the sperm initiates development by causing a series of oscillations in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration.  We have previously shown that the sperm initiates Ca2+ oscillations in egg by introducing the sperm specific phospholipase C zeta (PLCzeta) after gamete membrane fusion. PLCzeta generates cycles of InsP3 production and Ca2+ release.  We have shown that PLCzeta is unique amongst mammalian PLCs in causing Ca2+ oscillations in eggs, and in that it specifically targets intracellular vesicles containing phosphoinositides.  Recent studies in mice suggest that there may be an additional factor that promotes Ca2+ oscillations in eggs and we have begun to investigate the nature of a putative second sperm factor.

We are currently investigating exactly how PLCzeta causes Ca2+ release and what factors in the egg effect the sensitivity to PLCzeta.  We study egg activation in mouse eggs and collaborate with the Wales Fertility Institute to study Ca2+ oscillations in human eggs. I also collaborate with Thomas Woolley and Katerina Kaouri in the School of Mathematics in Cardiff University to model the mechanisms of Ca2+ oscillations. One of the main aims of these projects is to establish methods for improving egg activation and subsequent embryo development in clinical IVF treatments.

I am also interested in metabolism in eggs and early embryos and specifically in the regulation of mitochondrial activity.  I collaborate with Paola Borri and Wolfgang Langbein (Physics, Cardiff University) and use CARS imaging of eggs and embryos to monitor changes in lipid droplets caused by exposure to fatty acids. We study the way in which lipid content effects egg and embryo physiology. We also study the mechanism and function of sperm induced mitochondrial ATP production at fertilization.

Collaborators

Prof Paola Borri - Cardiff University

Thomas Woolley - Cardiff University

Dr Paul Knaggs - Wales Fertility Institute

Current Lab Members

Dr Yisu Wang (postdoc)

Miss Cindy Ikie (PhD student)

Addysgu

Rwy'n ymwneud â chyflwyno addysgu i fyfyrwyr Blwyddyn 2, Meistr a PhD. Rwyf hefyd yn diwtor ar gyfer myfyrwyr Blwyddyn 2, Blwyddyn 3 a PTY. 

Mae fy addysgu israddedig yn cynnwys cyfraniadau i fodiwlau:

BI2331: Ffisioleg (Dirprwy Arweinydd Modiwl)

BI2231: Bioleg celloedd

BI2233: Bioleg Celloedd Datblygiadol a Bôn

BI3001: Prosiect Blwyddyn Derfynol Biowyddorau

Bywgraffiad

Cwblheais fy Gradd BSc a'r PhD yn yr Adran Ffisioleg yn UCL dan oruchwyliaeth Michael Whitaker. Gweithiais fel postdoc yn Japan gyda Shun-ichi Miyazaki yn astudio osgiliadau Ca2+ mewn ffrwythloni mewn wyau a dychwelais i Lundain i weithio gyda David Whittingham yn Ysgol Feddygol Ysbyty St George. Yn 1994 cefais fy mhenodi'n ddarlithydd yn yr Adran Anatomeg a Bioleg Ddatblygiadol yn UCL. Yna yn 2004 cefais fy mhenodi'n Gadeirydd Bioleg Celloedd Atgenhedlol yn yr Ysgol Meddygaeth ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd. Yn 2016 symudais i Ysgol y Biowyddorau. Mae gen i Drwydded Ymchwil HFEA i astudio actifadu wyau dynol ac rwy'n Aelod Bwrdd Golygyddol o'r cyfnodolyn 'Atproduction'. Rwyf wedi cyflwyno fy ymchwil mewn llawer o gyfarfodydd rhyngwladol gan gynnwys sgyrsiau gwahoddedig mewn pum Cynhadledd Ymchwil Gordon.

Yn y 1990au disgrifiais fodolaeth protein sberm hydawdd gyntaf a allai sbarduno osgiliadau Ca2 + mewn wyau mamaliaid. Arloesais y theori bod y sberm yn actifadu'r wy trwy gyflwyno protein sberm hydawdd ar ôl ymasiad gamete. Mae'r mecanwaith hwn o actifadu wyau bellach yn cael ei gydnabod yn eang fel y ffordd y mae'r sberm yn achosi actifadu wyau ac yn cychwyn datblygiad. Dangosodd y gwaith yn fy labordy gyntaf mai'r prif ffactor sberm mamalaidd yw ffosffolipase C (PLC). Yna, mewn cydweithrediad â Tony Lai ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, fe wnes i helpu i ddangos bod y ffactor yn PLCzeta. Rwy'n parhau i weithio ar actifadu wyau ac agweddau ar metaboledd mitochondrial mewn wyau mamaliaid.  

Meysydd goruchwyliaeth

Rwyf ar gael ar gyfer goruchwylio prosiectau Meistr a PhD ym meysydd cyffredinol y canlynol:

1. Ca2 + osgiliadau ac actifadu wyau wrth ffrwythloni.

2. Rôl mitocondria mewn ffrwythloni a datblygiad cynnar.