I am interested in studying protein localization in cilia using Single Point, Edge Excitation, sub-Diffraction (SPEED) microscopy developed here in Dr. Weidong Yang’s lab. Protein dynamics, especially in primary cilia which is mainly a sensory organ, are an important subset of ciliary processes to establish normal patterns for given the array of ciliopathies which may result from abnormal functioning. Some of the more notable diseases resulting from malfunctioning cilia are polycystic kidney disease, Bardet-Biedl Syndrome, and obesity.

 

We use SPEED microscopy, originally designed for use in the nuclear pore complex, to track the movement of single molecules in the cilia. Except for a poorly defined link to size exclusion and a ciliary targetting sequence which may interact with certain domains of the pore, the mechanics of protein movement through the ciliary pore are not well understood. Many nucleoporins that are known components of the nuclear pore complex also localize to the cilia pore asking the question if transport through the cilia pore is similar (or not) to the nuclear pore. We hope to clear up some of the undefined areas of cilia research with this microscopy technique.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From nuclear pore complex to cilia...