The control of cell signalling by membrane remodelling

细胞分泌称为生长因子的信号分子，以驱动关键的发育过程，如生长，分化和死亡。该项目旨在了解我们发现的一种新机制，该机制通过进化以破坏细胞膜的蛋白质家族来控制生长因子。这是非常新颖的，因为这些蛋白质的通常作用是杀死免疫系统靶向的病原体。通过结合创新的遗传学、高分辨率成像和先进的生化分析，该项目旨在为动物发育过程中细胞信号传导如何调控提供关键的分子见解。我们预计，这将影响我们对膜生物学及其对细胞信号传导的影响的一般理解。

Cells secrete signalling molecules called growth factors to drive critical developmental processes such as growth, differentiation and death. This project aims to understand a new mechanism that we have discovered for the control of growth factors by a protein family evolved to damage cell membranes. This is highly novel since the usual role of these proteins is to kill pathogens targeted by the immune system. By coupling innovative genetics, high-resolution imaging, and advanced biochemical analyses, this project intends to provide key molecular insights into how cell signalling can be regulated during animal development. We anticipate that this will impact our general understanding of membrane biology and its influence on cell signalling.