Polarity complexes in cellular differentiation

我的NSERC发现项目专注于鉴定调节细胞极性的蛋白质-蛋白质复合物。我们特别关注这些复合物在突触发育中的作用，突触是中枢神经系统中比较极化的结构之一。突触是细胞与细胞接触的地方，专门用于在神经元之间传递化学和电信号。突触的特殊功能源于形成突触前和突触后区室的蛋白质的不对称分布，并涉及肌动蛋白动力学的协调调节。因此，毫不奇怪，调节小Rho gtpase （Rac， Rho和cdc42）活性的信号通路已被证明在突触和突触形态的发育和维持中起着重要作用。

My NSERC Discovery program has focused on identifying protein-protein complexes that regulate cell polarity. In particular we have been focusing on the role of these complexes play in the development of the synapse, one of the more polarized structures in the CNS. Synapses are sites of cell-cell contact specialized for the transmission of chemical and electrical signals between neurons. The specialized function of the synapse results from the asymmetric distribution of proteins forming the presynaptic and postsynaptic compartments, and involves the coordinated regulation of actin dynamics. Not surprisingly then, signalling pathways that regulate the activity of the small Rho GTPases, Rac, Rho and cdc42, have been shown to play an important role in the development and maintenance of the synapse and synaptic morphology.