Adrienne Wilk, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
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CMW 146
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I am interested in the delineating the molecular signature and signaling pathways uniquely associated with latent HIV-infected cells. We are also studying the cell biology of gp 105, a cell surface protein marker of caveolin-enriched, polarized non-adhesive plasma membrane macrodomains in motile cells.
About
Current research activities in our laboratory are focused on revealing the molecular signature and signaling pathways uniquely associated with latent HIV-infected cells versus uninfected cells. This research seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the latent HIV-infected cell that typically evades immune recognition. We have been interested in the effects of persistent latent-HIV infection on specific cell organelle proteins to enable targeting of these cells. Our studies involve mass cell culture, state-of-the-art proteomics and bioinformatics and have so far revealed a number of unique proteins, protein modifications and signaling pathways of the latent-HIV infected cell. Cell biology research in the laboratory has also led to the discovery of a cell surface glycoprotein, gp105, a protein identified to be related to the T-cadherin precursor that is asymmetrically segregated to rearward positioned, non-adhesive plasma membrane macrodomains in motile chick heart fibroblasts. We have also determined that gp 105 is a cell surface marker for non-protrusive expanses of the plasma membrane where caveolin-enriched domains reside and underlying actin microfilaments are laterally placed. We are interested in the cell surface expression of gp 105 as it may govern outside-in signal transduction at caveolae. Our continued study of gp 105 is expected to advance understanding of cell polarity, as well as motility in many types of cells.