National Institute of General Medical Sciences 5R35GM150961-03

Basis and Function of Lateral Assembly of Cadherin Molecules in Adhesive Junctions of Humans and Model Organisms

This award funds research to understand the molecular mechanisms of cadherin protein assembly at cell-cell junctions and their changes in disease, using structural, biophysical, and functional methods.

Description

Intercellular adhesive junctions formed by cadherins are fundamental to development and organization of tissues in all multicellular animals, and their dysfunction in human disease has severe consequences including fatal developmental errors, cancer progression, and skin blistering. At these junctions, cadherin proteins assemble into intricate and highly ordered structures that bridge between the membranes of contacting cells. We propose to investigate the molecular mechanism of how these large and poorly understood superstructures form at critical cell-cell junctions and how they may be changed in disease by using a multi-pronged approach comprising structural, biophysical and functional methods, including direct visualization in cells and native tissues.

View original record