About event
Cilia are hair-like organelles protruding from the surface of most cells. The function of the single non-motile primary cilium has for a long time been enigmatic. In fact, primary cilia were considered obsolete. It is now appreciated that primary cilium contains receptors and effectors of several signaling pathways, such as the Hedgehog (HH) pathway. Conversely, cilia govern important aspects of embryonic development and tissue homeostasis across vertebrates. While complete ablation of primary cilia is considered incompatible with life, partial defects in their assembly and function lead to diseases collectively termed ciliopathies. Cilia status also affects certain cancers, such as medulloblastoma or basal cell carcinoma. Thus, understanding the biology of the cilium and the underlying regulatory mechanisms is the key requirement for uncovering the pathological processes behind the onset of cilia-related disorders and for the discovery of treatment.
In my talk, I will first give an overview of cilia structure, regulation, and function. I will also explain key methodologies my lab is using to tackle some of the outstanding questions on the biology of these organelles. Finally, I will outline major findings from our recent cilia-focused projects.
More information
This event is part of the Principal Investigator Seminar Series, the schedule of seminars can be found here.
