Wei Guo, Ph.D.

Research

Exocytosis is a basic membrane traffic event mediated by transport, docking, and fusion of secretory vesicles carrying proteins and lipids to the plasma membrane. Through exocytosis, hormones and neurotransmitters can be released. Also through exocytosis, membrane proteins and lipids can be incorporated into specific domains of plasma membrane for cell surface expansion, cell growth, morphogenesis, and cell migration. Our research aims to address two fundamental questions in cell and developmental biology: (1) what is the molecular basis for exocytosis; and (2) how do the secretory machinery functions in concert with cytoskeleton and small-GTP-binding proteins during cell polarization, morphogenesis, and cancer cell metastasis.