What is the Zerial lab?

Our vision is to develop a systems understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying cell and tissue organization. Over the years, we have been studying the molecular mechanisms of endocytosis, unravelling the key role played by Rab GTPases and their effectors. This work has led us to demonstrate that Rab5 is a master regulator of early endosome biogenesis. We have recently conducted a systems biology analysis by genome-wide RNAi screening in HeLa cells and in C. elegans, using quantitative multi-parametric image analysis (QMPIA). This led us to gain insights into the design principles of the endosomal system. We are now ready to apply this methodology to the multi-scale analysis of tissue organization and function. For general background information on our scientific interests, please visit our section dedicated to the public audience.