I am currently a 4th year PhD student working on the project titled “Control of Cdc42 subcellular localization”. This project is in collaboration with my other host laboratory being the Goud lab at Institut Curie. The main aim of my project is to understand how the subcellular localization of Cdc42 governs its important function in cell migration.
Cdc42 is a small GTPase that is widely known for its key role in cell polarization. However less is known regarding the dynamics of subcellular localization in this process. As a protein that is geranylgeranylated it is mostly membrane bound upon being released by the RhoGDI. Therefore there is a regulated accumulation of Cdc42 both at endomembranes such as the Golgi apparatus membrane or the plasma membrane. To study this dynamic localization and its corresponding role we have developed both in cellulo assays using optogenetic tools in primary rat astrocytes and an in vitro assay using Giant Unilamellar vesicles.
Figure legends
- A video showing primary rat astrocyte expressing SspBnano-ITSN construct, where upon blue light illumination we can observe formation of filopodia and lamellipodium due to Cdc42 activation.
- Images depicting the distinct binding of wildtype GFP-Cdc42 to GUVs, whereas the mutant GFP-Cdc42-Gg lacking geranylgeranylation fails to bind to GUVs.