Dr. Kay Schink, Institute for Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo
Dr. Kay Schink, Associate Professor at the Institute for Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, will present: "Phosphoinositides in control of cellular membrane dynamics"
Main content
Eukaryotic cells have complex membrane systems with thousands of vesicles, each requiring a specific set of proteins and lipids to function. A major challenge is ensuring that each vesicle consistently acquires and maintains the correct identity as they bud and fuse with other membranes.My research group focuses on the mechanisms behind vesicle identity, particularly the roles of phosphoinositide lipids (PIs) and Rab GTPases, which encode membrane identity and direct vesicles to their correct destinations.We use macropinocytosis, an actin-driven endocytosis process where cells form large vesicles by engulfing extracellular fluids, as a model system. Macropinocytosis is crucial for immune surveillance and membrane recycling but is also exploited by cancer cells for nutrient scavenging and by pathogens as a route for cellular entry.We are studying how cells control macropinosome formation, especially how actin-driven membrane ruffles are transforming into vesicles, and how cell shape and other mechanical cues guide vesicle formation.We further study how these newly-formed vesicles establish the correct endosomal identity and avoid an identity crisis after scission from the plasma membrane, with a special focus on the recruitment and regulation of Rab GTPases and phosphoinositide lipids.Additionally, we explore how cancer cells manipulate macropinocytosis to acquire nutrients and how pathogens hijack this mechanism to invade host cells.
