How Cells Take In Molecules and How Viruses Enter
Actin assembly and clathrin-mediated endocytosis in yeast and mammals
This research explores how cells bring in important molecules from their environment and how viruses like COVID-19 get inside cells, using both yeast and human stem cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126863 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our cells constantly take in molecules from their surroundings through a process called clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME), which is crucial for how cells respond to their environment. This same process is also a main pathway for viruses, including COVID-19, to enter cells. We are studying the detailed steps of CME in both yeast and human stem cells to understand how cells coordinate this intake. The project aims to uncover how membrane shape affects these processes, how CME adapts in different cell types, and how the cell's internal structure, called actin, helps pull things into the cell.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational laboratory research does not involve direct patient participation, but its findings could eventually inform future treatments for patients with conditions related to cell entry, such as viral infections.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical participation would not find direct benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this foundational understanding could lead to new strategies for preventing viral infections or for delivering medicines more effectively into cells.
How similar studies have performed: While many components of this cellular process are known, this project aims to uncover novel, detailed mechanisms of how these complex events are coordinated and regulated, building upon existing scientific knowledge.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Drubin, David G — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Drubin, David G
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.