Research

The eukaryotic endomembrane system is responsible for delivery of newly synthesized protein and lipid to the outside of the cell; for uptake, processing and degradation of extracellular molecules; and for the regeneration and functioning of intracellular organelles. It is comprised of distinct membrane-bound compartments, including ER, Golgi apparatus, endosomes, lysosomes and plasma membrane, among which transport intermediates carry protein and lipid molecules. Within this system, molecules undergo dynamic movements, including lateral diffusion between distinct membrane domains, membrane binding and dissociation into the cytoplasm, and active transport within membrane-bound carriers. Studies in our group are aimed at describing this dynamic activity and relating it to the molecular mechanisms underlying endomembrane structure and function. As this requires methods for visualizing the movement of molecules within cells and for quantifying this movement, a major effort of our lab also has been directed at developing quantitative tools and methods for analyzing protein and organelle dynamics in living cells.

Click on the images below for a brief description of our research.