When blood glucose levels rise after a meal, insulin is released from the pancreas鈥� beta cells. The insulin is transported in the bloodstream to the target cells, where it binds to insulin receptors.
My thesis work involved demonstrating that insulin receptors are localised to specific parts of the cell membrane - so-called caveolae - in fat cells from rats and humans. Caveolae are small 鈥渃ave-like鈥� indentations in the cell membrane, which are characterised by the structural protein caveolin, and have a high cholesterol content.
Teaching
I teach primarily in semester 1-3, mainly physiology. I examine and supervise students writing their theses at the end of the Nursing Programme.
I also teach in semester 2 of the Occupational Therapy Programme.