We are interested in the mechanisms that control vesicular protein trafficking along the exocytic and endocytic pathways, which together determine the dynamic composition of the cell surface. We are studying: a) The role of the trans-Golgi network and recycling endosomes in the polarized protein sorting to apical and basolateral plasma membrane domains of epithelial cells; b) The role of endocytosis in the control of cell surface expression of different receptors, including the paradigmatic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) crucially involved in tumorigenesis and cancer therapy. In a different project, in collaboration with rheumatologists we are attempting to identify and characterize cell surface proteins that could be potential targets of pathogenic autoantibodies, and mediate neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive decline in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, the prototypic autoimmune disease.
FONDAP-CRCP
Av. Bernardo O´Higgins 340 -
Santiago -
Región Metropolitana
Chile
Phone: 56-2-6862592 - Fax: 56-2-6862959
fondapni@bio.puc.cl
http://www.fondap-crcp.cl
