Lipid-protein interaction in the primary cilium (28*)

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Primary cilia are membrane protrusions, emerging from the surface of most eukaryotic cells. However, their function is rather enigmatic. Cilia constitute a unique microdomain, containing not only a certain protein repertoire and organization, but also forming a distinct membrane domain, whose lipid composition is different from the cell body. However, how lipids control ciliary function, in particular the function of proteins in the cilium, is not well understood. We will analyze the role of the glycosphingolipid glucosylceramide and certain phosphoinositide species in controlling primary ciliary signaling, e.g. Hedgehog signaling, and ciliary function using state-of-the-art imaging techniques. Our approach of analyzing how lipids control protein signaling in the primary cilium will reveal new insights into the regulation of ciliary function under physiological and pathological conditions.