Regulation of Polarised Trafficking Machinery in Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition.

During epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), epithelial cells lose their apical-basal polarity and gain invasive properties. Currently, it is unknown how the regulation of trafficking machinery which mediates polarised trafficking is altered. Included in the trafficking machinery is the exocyst complex.

One of the key hallmarks of cancer is the activation of invasion and metastasis, this directly correlates with a poor prognosis in patients. The ability of cells to undergo EMT is central to metastasis. It is therefore essential to better understand changes to polarised trafficking which facilitate this step.

To address these questions, quantitative mass spectrometry will be used to identify exocyst interacting proteins during EMT. This research willprovide an insight into one of the major challenges in modern healthcare.

Moreover, cell biology and recombinant protein biochemistry methods will be used to further characterise exocyst dynamics at the basal membrane and the role of exocyst interactors