Grant: Operating Grant

The human retina contains cells called photoreceptors that are specialized to receive light and thus allow us to see. Photoreceptor cells have a complex architecture that emerges during development and that is essential for the normal function and survival of these cells. Mutations in several genes are known that seem to compromise photoreceptor cell structure and lead to the degeneration of the retina and blindness. The crumbs gene that we study is one of those genes. Humans that carry a mutant crumbs gene become blind during early childhood. Photoreceptors belong to a large group of cells known as epithelial cells, which include cells in our skin, gut, liver, and lungs to mention a few examples. All epithelial cells share a polarized cell structure that is critical for their shape and function as in the case of photoreceptors. Crumbs is needed to shape many different epithelial cells in addition to photoreceptors. On a fundamental level, we try to understand the mechanisms that shape epithelial cells by studying crumbs and several other genes that interact with crumbs. Our work is also highly relevant for the understanding of cancer. In most organs, cancer cells originate from epithelial cells in these organs. In fact, more than 80% of all cancers derive from epithelial cells. Thus, understanding epithelial tissue organization and developing strategies for maintaining epithelial tissue integrity is critical for addressing the cancer problem.