Kamil Jastrzębski

Endocytic trafficking and intracellular signaling of PDGF ligands and receptors

Kamil Jastrzębski, (IBB PAS),
Supervisor: dr hab. Marta Miączyńska, prof. IBB PAS

Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) belong to the family of disulphide-linked dimer ligands which act via transmembrane receptors with tyrosine kinase activity. Activation of the PDGF receptor (PDGFR) regulates major cellular processes like proliferation, migration and differentiation. In parallel to evoking signaling responses, PDGF binding to the PDGFR induces endocytosis of ligand-receptor complexes which decreases a number of available PDGFR on the plasma membrane. Importantly, before degradation in lysosomes, internalized receptors are still active and capable of signal transduction. Their lifetime and intracellular location determined by the endocytic routes may play a significant role in the regulation of PDGF-dependent cellular signaling. That is why we undertook studies to characterize kinetics of endocytic transport of PDGF-PDGFR complexes and to determine the role of endocytosis in PDGF-induced signaling.

Discussion