Cell polarity and cell cycle regulation
Loss of the apical-basal cell polarity and cell-cell adhesion is a crucial step in the pathogenesis of epithelial tumors. Proteins of the Crumbs complex do not only influence apical-basal polarity and formation of tight junctions but also regulate cell size, proliferation, migration and thus may promote the growth of the primary tumor and metastasis.
Using MDCK cells and different human tumor cell models as well as a variety of molecular biological/biochemical and imaging techniques I aim to reveal the underlying functional mechanisms and relevant interaction partners of the Crumbs complex.