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 | Andrew Kowalczyk
Department of Cell Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, United States of America | | | Faculty Member: Cell Biology > Cell Adhesion [ since 15 January 2009 ] |
| | [ Biography ] [ Homepage ] [ Evaluations ] | Biography
Andrew P. Kowalczyk, Ph.D.
Department of Cell Biology
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta, GA
USA
The goal of our research is to understand the mechanisms by which cell-cell contact is established and regulated in the context of development and disease. We are currently investigating the mechanisms by which the armadillo family protein p120-catenin regulates cadherin endocytosis and vascular endothelial cell-cell adhesion. Our work indicates that p120-catenin modulates cadherin endocytic membrane trafficking, and that this regulatory axis is critical for normal microvascular patterning and barrier function during development. In addition, we are investigating the cellular and molecular basis for the loss of cell-cell adhesion in the autoimmune skin blistering disease pemphigus vulgaris. These studies are focused on understanding how patient autoantibodies that are directed against desmosomal cadherins cause the disruption of desmosomes and loss of epithelial cell-cell adhesion that characterizes this disorder. Overall, our goal is to reveal the fundamental mechanisms that regulate cadherins and to understand how these systems might be manipulated therapeutically.
| Home page
http://www.dermatology.emory.edu/labs/kowalczyk/index.htm |
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