APC and early cellular changes

Research is focused on cell polarity, cell migration, and regulation of gene expression. 

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Because we identified that Wnt signaling was not active in this process, we performed a microarray to identify other possible molecular mechanisms by which APC mediates polarity. We found that Epithelial Membrane Protein 2 (EMP2), a tetraspan protein upregulated in several epithelial cancers, is increased upon APC loss (Lesko, et al, 2015). 

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Current research is focused on how APC and EMP2 regulate apical-basal polarity. To determine if EMP2 plays a role in APC-mediated polarity, we created double knockdown cell lines and found that EMP2 knockdown could restore polarity in APC knockdown cells. These data suggest a novel role for EMP2 in mediating apical-basal polarity (Lesko, et al, 2017). 

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We are now beginning to understand how APC regulates EMP2 transcriptionally and the signaling cascade from EMP2 to polarity. 

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If you are interested in joining this exciting project, please email us!