How Cells Organize Their Inner Parts
Morphological Determinants of Intracellular Membrane Compartments
This project explores how the tiny compartments inside our cells get their unique shapes and how these shapes help cells grow and stay healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146606 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our cells are filled with tiny compartments, called organelles, each with a special job to help the cell live and grow. This project aims to understand how these compartments get their specific shapes and how their shape affects what they do. We are looking at a new idea that suggests certain rod-like proteins might self-assemble into liquid-like structures to help shape these compartments. By studying how these internal structures are organized, especially where two important compartments (ER and Golgi) meet, we hope to learn why this specific arrangement is so crucial for cell function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but could eventually inform future studies for individuals with conditions related to cell growth and organization, such as cancer.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment options or direct clinical intervention would not find direct benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding how cell compartments are organized could offer new insights into diseases like cancer, where cell growth and function go wrong.
How similar studies have performed: This project proposes a novel organizing principle for cell membranes, building on recent discoveries about how cell components can separate into distinct, non-membranous domains.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ernst, Andreas Max — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Ernst, Andreas Max
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.