Membranes and Transport Mechanisms
The Andrews Lab focuses its research on precision cancer treatments, programmed cell death, and the assembly of proteins into cellular membrane. They are interested in personalizing medicine by evaluating cellular responses to genetic changes and drugs.
Collaborations with the Bear Lab provided the first direct evidence that the CFTR protein functions as a cyclic AMP regulated chloride channel. The Lab continues to elucidate the mechanistic and genetic causes of cystic fibrosis and contributes to the larger fields of ion channel activity, membrane protein assembly and function, protein purification and functional reconstitution, and lung and kidney disease.
Ernst Lab
Our research focuses on transmembrane signaling by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). We seek to elucidate GPCR functionality and interaction with signaling proteins like G proteins and arrestins. Using different spectroscopic techniques and X-ray crystallography, we investigate the mechanisms, specificity, and structural basis of these interactions. Another focus of our work is on rhodopsin, the photoreceptor protein in the vertebrate retina.
Grinstein Lab
The Grinstein group is interested in several aspects of membrane biology and signal transduction as well as how these influence macrophages and the innate immune response. Studies emphasize ion transport mechanisms, mediation of phagocytosis, and interactions between pathogen and host cell membranes.
Our research activities are focused on understanding at the molecular and cellular level biological processes involved in microbial pathogenesis. The insights we gain from our fundamental research are used to develop novel strategies and treatments for bacterial and fungal biofilm related infections.
Our research focuses on the development and function of blood platelets. These tiny cells co-ordinate blood clotting at wound sites by adhering, aggregating, and secreting a wide variety of molecules. Platelets are also involved in the formation of arterial plaques and pathological clots. Our particular interest is alpha granules, vesicles that platelets use to transport and secrete specialized proteins.
Kapus Lab
The Kapus lab investigates cellular plasticity, particularly as it pertains to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and myofibroblast formation. These processes are critical to tissue repair and are central to the pathobiology of organ fibrosis. We study how the cytoskeleton is remodeled upon exposure to stress and conversely how cytoskeleton remodeling impacts major cell processes including gene expression, ion transport, and organelle functioning.
Kim Lab
The primary objective of our group is to understand the basic mechanisms involved in the maintenance of peroxisomes in the mammalian cell, particularly in brain development. To achieve this goal, we are focusing on understanding the 1) biogenesis and 2) degradation of peroxisomes using cutting-edge live-cell microscopy techniques on state of the art microscopes in combination with biochemical approaches.
We are an endothelial biology lab with a focus on the study of permeability. We have particular expertise in the study of endothelial LDL transcytosis (the first step in atherosclerosis) and in the development of therapeutic approaches for lung endothelial leakage (i.e. pathogen-induced lung injury) in inflammation.
Lemaire Lab
The lab’s main aim is translational research that pertains to rare paediatric kidney diseases using genomic tools for gene discovery followed by careful functional dissection of candidate genes using cutting-edge microscopic, cell biology and biochemical methods.
The Lingwood Lab focuses on membrane biochemistry of Glycosphingolipids (GSLs). By analyzing the function of GSLs in normal and pathophysiology, we have identified potential avenues for therapeutic intervention in HIV, cancers, cystic fibrosis and Gaucher disease.
Melnyk Lab
Using chemical biology and targeted drug discovery approaches combined with molecular biophysics and structural analysis the Melnyk Lab seeks to understand bacterial toxins associated with infectious disease. We identify and validate host & toxin targets and discover small molecule hits for further exploration and development.
Our lab focuses on the structural and functional characterization of protein and ion translocation machineries within the membranes of pathogenic bacteria. We use primarily X-ray crystallography in combination with other molecular approaches to gain a detailed understanding of how these membrane protein complexes function.
Norris Lab
Research in the Norris lab investigates the structure and molecular assembly of deadly RNA viruses, with a special emphasis on paramyxoviruses (measles virus, mumps virus, Nipah virus, parainfluenza virus) and filoviruses (Ebola virus & Marburg virus). We use structural biology (X-ray crystallography and electron cryomicroscopy), functional biochemistry, cellular biology, and basic virology to understand the molecular mechanisms driving viral self-assembly.
Ohh Lab
Our research mission is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing the function of two major cancer-associated proteins called von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumour suppressor protein and RAS oncoprotein with the supposition that lessons learned would provide fundamental understanding of cell biology and lay the basic foundation for the development of rational anti-cancer therapeutics.
In the Palazzo lab we are studying the rules that govern whether an RNA molecule is exported from the nucleus and subsequently transported to specific subcellular regions, or whether it is retained in the nucleus and degraded. We use a combination of cell biological, biochemical and computational methods in order to gain insight into these fundamental processes.
The Pomès group specializes in the development of computational methods and their application to the study of biological processes. In particular, we seek to uncover the link between the structure, dynamics, and function of proteins. Our work is grounded in statistical mechanics, which provides a formal connection between microscopic and macroscopic length scales.
Privé Lab
Our research centers on the study of protein structure and molecular recognition, with an emphasis on understanding protein-protein, protein-peptide and protein-lipid interactions.
Dr. Gil Privé
Rand Lab
We are interested in the biochemical mechanisms involved in platelet function and dysfunction. We are investigating hereditary and acquired platelet disorders, factors affecting function of stored and transfused platelets, and effectors of platelet function in vivo, including those that may be involved in the clearance of platelets from the circulation.
My laboratory has been studying the ubiquitin system, particularly the Nedd4 family of E3 ubiquitin ligases. We are studying the biochemistry, structure and function of these E3 ligases, as well as their physiological functions using cells and model organisms. Other related project in the lab focus on membrane proteins associated with Cystic Fibrosis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Our group, consisting of biophysicists and biochemists, studies the structure and function of macromolecular assemblies using electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM), image analysis, biochemistry and molecular genetics.
The Stagljar Lab focuses on elucidating the functions of membrane proteins. We examine how these proteins interact with each other and with other intracellular proteins to perform a variety of cellular functions. We have developed two unique technologies: the Membrane Yeast Two-Hybrid (MYTH) and the Mammalian Membrane Two-Hybrid (MaMTH), which enable researchers to study this clinically relevant class of proteins.
In the Wilde Lab we study the molecular processes that drive cell division and the maintenance of genome stability. Using a combination of biochemical and imaging techniques, we exploit a variety of model systems, frogs, flies and tissue culture cells, to address different molecular questions related to cell division.
Yip Lab
Research at the Yip Lab focuses on the development and application of super-resolution combinatorial microscopies for imaging of molecular assemblies, structures, and dynamics. Recent projects include studies of peptide and protein-membrane interactions in the context of neurodegenerative diseases, the design of novel antimicrobial agents, and membrane receptor self-association with implications for cell signaling in infection and cancers.