The National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases

Laboratory of Cell Biochemistry and Biology - (LCBB)

This laboratory applies a multi-disciplinary approach to problems of central importance to modern biology. We focus on the role of intracellular trafficking in cell biology and pathology. Our long-term goals are to understand the underlying molecular mechanism involved in such diverse human diseases as diabetes mellitus, lysosomal storage diseases, and AIDS. Independent projects cover a range of topics and analytical tools from classical and molecular genetics to biochemistry and enzymology. One particularly strong analytical focus is the use of confocal and electron microscopy to visualize the localization and movement of molecules within cells and tissues. These analytical tools are applied in such diverse areas as signal transduction, oncogenes, the cell cycle, and glycobiology. Investigators are carrying out studies dealing with

• Structure and function of the nuclear pore complex.
• Movement of steroid hormone receptors from cytoplasm to nucleus.
• Movement of cholesterol within cells (Niemann-Pick type C disease).
• Glycobiology; cell surface glycoproteins (HIV glycoprotein interactions with CD4).
• The mechanism of nuclear transport (HIV regulatory proteins).
• Glycoprotein biosynthesis and the enzymology of glycosyltransferases.
• The molecular mechanism of insulin resistance and glucose sensing in the pancreas (type 1 and type 2 diabetes).
• Glycan-dependent signaling pathways.
• Receptor-mediated endocytosis.
• Structural biology and image reconstruction.