Organelles of Eukaryotes

Similar to the heart, brain, kidneys, and intestines, which perform specific functions in the body, the cells constituting the basic units of these organs and tissues also harbor organelles with diverse functions, such as mitochondria, the Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and the nucleus. Enclosed by lipid membranes, these organelles compartmentalize the internal environment of the cell, facilitating crucial biochemical reactions necessary for cellular functions within specific compartments. Genetic anomalies associated with the biogenesis and maintenance of these organelles are closely intertwined with numerous human diseases.

Dynamics of Cellular Organelles

While textbooks often depict cell organelles as static, isolated entities, the reality within the nuclei of eukaryotic cells is dynamic. Organelles are not stationary; instead, they constantly change positions, fuse or divide, altering their shapes and sizes. They engage in dynamic interactions, exchanging substances with neighboring organelles. In our lab, we explore how these cell organelles originate, remodel in response to cellular conditions (such as stress and differentiation), and recover from damage to their lipid membranes. To achieve this, our lab utilizes advanced microscopy techniques, various organelle labeling and tracking methods, as well as comprehensive biochemical and molecular biology approaches.