National Institute of General Medical Sciences 5R35GM147569-05

Dissecting the Diverse Roles of Importin α at the Plasma Membrane

This award funds research to understand the roles of Importin α at the plasma membrane using innovative techniques like microfluidics and optogenetics. The goal is to uncover mechanisms underlying diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's, and polycystic kidney disease, potentially leading to new therapeutic targets and diagnostics.

Description

The proposed research is relevant to public health because the formation of macromolecular structures at the plasma membrane is crucial for cell and tissue homeostasis, structure and function. Defects in the composition of these structures lead to a wide variety of diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, ciliopathies such as polycystic kidney disease, and others. This proposal uses a novel model system and an innovative microfluidic cell-like approach in conjunction with optogenetics to uncover the role of newly identified proteins in the formation of macromolecular complexes.

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