Research groups

Research

GFP-tagged TGN38 in stably transfected NRK cells incubated at 15ºC.

Membrane traffic pathways in mammalian cells

How do the tens of thousands of different proteins expressed in each individual mammalian cell end up in the right place within that cell? This is the central question that underlies the research going on in my lab.

Mammalian cells possess complex and dynamic intracellular membrane systems. Many integral membrane proteins move between different membranes within the cell in order to perform their function. My lab is interested in the movement of proteins, particularly integral membrane proteins, between the trans Golgi network (TGN; at the exit of the Golgi apparatus) and the cell surface. Several inter-related projects using techniques of molecular and cell biology as well as live cell imaging (using 'state of the art' facilities within the MRC funded Cell Imaging Facility) to address this area of protein trafficking.

Recent work has focused on the membrane protein tetherin (CD317). Tetherin is present in many cell types and has been shown to play multiple roles, from regulation of the actin cytsoskeleton in polarised epithelial cells to restriction of the release of a range of enveloped viruses (including HIV), see (http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2009/6246.html) for more information.

Group

Ruth Rollason, Pete Billcliff, Katie Dunstan and Rachel Curnock.

Recent publications

Rollason, R., Korolchuk, V., Hamilton, C., Jepson, M. and Banting, G. (2009) A CD317(tetherin)/RICH2 complex plays a critical role in the organisation of the sub-apical actin cytoskeleton in polarised epithelial cells. J. Cell Biol. 184, 721-736, .

Goffinet, C., Allespach, I., Homann, S., Tervo, H-M., Habermann, A., Rupp, D., Oberbremer, L., Kern, C., Tibroni, N., Welsch, S., Krijnse-Locker, J., Banting, G., Kräusslich, H-G., Fackler, O.T. and Keppler, O.T. (2009) HIV-1 Antagonism of CD317 is Species-Specific and Involves Vpu-Mediated Proteasomal Degradation of the Restriction Factor. Cell Host & Microbe 19, 285-297.

Sajanikumari, S., Patil, A., Hastie, P., Banting, G. and Mann, S. (2008) Novel protein/inorganic nanoparticles prepared by inorganic replication of self-assembled clathrin cages and triskelia. Soft Matter 4, 2054-2058.

Rollason, R., Korolchuk, V., Hamilton, C., Schu, P. and Banting, G. (2007) Clathrin-mediated endocytosis of a lipid-raft-associated protein is mediated through a dual tyrosine motif. J. Cell Sci. 120, 3850-3858.