Date/Time
Date(s) - 13/01/2020
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

TITLE:              Uncovering EpithelialOrganizing Principles with Synthetic Biomimetic Structures         

Date:                  Monday, January 13^th,2020     

Time:                 1:30 p.m.  

Place:                 ABB 102

ABSTRACT: 

Epithelialcells accomplish a number of remarkable feats in the human body throughchemically rich membrane structures. Epithelial membranes help protect the bodyfrom pathogens, they help form the complex shapes of organs, and they helpexcrete waste and take up nutrients necessary for homeostasis and survival.Many of these functions are so central to normal physiology that when disruptedlead directly to disease, such as cancer and transport disorders. Yet, howmembrane structures – membrane proteins and glycans, in particular –mechanistically execute many of the varied functions of epithelial tissueremains unresolved. To overcome the challenges associated with such a complexbiochemical environment, I’ve developed a number of synthetic tools thatcontrol membrane composition with molecular precision. In this talk, I willdiscuss two discoveries in epithelial biology enabled by biomimetic structures.In the first part of the talk, I will describe how membrane glycans controlmammary gland morphogenesis and tumorigenesis, and in the second part of thetalk, I will detail the discovery of a biochemical complex that sets epithelialtissue permeability. Findings from each of these projects have led to newtherapeutic strategies, several of which I will highlight throughout the talk.