Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Communication between cells and their environment is important. At the cell surface, proteins are expressed and are regulating cell function. Their surface expression need to be controled because these proteins are involved in the uptake of small molecules including ions and nutrients that are necessary for cell function. Also, these surface proteins (also called receptors) are involved in virus uptake into cells. One way to regulate cell surface expression of these receptors is endocytosis. Endocytosis is a complex process that allow receptors to enter inside the cell. Mechanism of endocytosis involved a variety of protein complexes that play a role at different step and time. One of the challenge of cell biology is to understand the function of each protein involved in this process and also to identify new proteins. My research program centers on the understanding of the function of two proteins important in the mechanism of endocytosis.