Grant: Operating Grant

The proper functioning of many cellular proteins depends on their proper localization within the cell, which may include their controlled movement between multiple cellular locations (a process termed "trafficking"). Our research seeks to understand how cells control the localization and trafficking of a broad and diverse group of cellular proteins known as glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins ("GPI-proteins"). These proteins play important biological roles, ranging from control of immune reactions to cellular uptake of nutrients like folic acid. They also serve as targets for several important bacterial toxins, including Clostridium and Pseudomonas toxins, and other pathogenic agents. Both the physiological and pathological functions of GPI-proteins are intimately linked to their location and their trafficking within cells. This project will investigate how GPI-proteins are localized and trafficked in cells that form the lining of tissues like the intestines and the urinary system, which are "front-line" sites for uptake of nutrients, excretion of materials and defense against infections. By understanding how cells control the locations and intracellular movements of these proteins, we can identify novel therapeutic possibilities to treat diseases in which GPI-protein functions are compromised by mutations or subverted by infectious organisms.