Skip to Main Content

Pietro De Camilli, MD

John Klingenstein Professor of Neuroscience and Professor of Cell Biology; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Director, Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair

Research Summary

The cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells is compartmentalized by intracellular membranes that are interconnected by membrane traffic. We study mechanisms underlying membrane dynamics, with emphasis on membrane transport reactions involved in neurotransmission. Our goal is to advance the understanding of nervous system function in health and disease, neurodegenerative diseases in particular. We also exploit the special properties of synapses to learn about general principles of membrane biology. Within this field, the interplay between bilayer lipids and peripheral membrane proteins is a major focus of our work. These interactions help regulate membrane budding, membrane fission and membrane progression along the secretory and endocytic pathways. A new interest of the lab concerns the role of lipid exchange between bilayers at membrane contact sites that do not result in membrane fusion. In our work we use a wide range of techniques, including biochemistry, structural biology, cell-free systems, optical and electron microscopy, and mouse genetics

Specialized Terms: Synapses; Membrane Traffic; Endocytosis; Clathrin; Dynamin; Phosphoinositides; Lipid Metabolism; Lowe Syndrome; Bar Proteins; Neurodegeneration; Membrane Contact Sites, Parkinson, ALS, Alzheimer's, Neuroacanthocytosis

Coauthors

Research Interests

Alzheimer Disease; Cell Membrane; Cell Biology; Endocytosis; Neurosciences; Parkinson Disease; Synapses; Lipid Metabolism; Neuroacanthocytosis

Research Images

Selected Publications