We study the sorting and function of ion transport proteins in polarized epithelial cells. Our work focuses on identifying the proteins that interact with ion transporters to determine their localization and trafficking properties. We are also studying polycystic kidney disease, and the unique trafficking processes that govern the distributions of the proteins encoded by the genes associated with this condition.

Duffield, A., E.J. Kamsteeg, A.N. Brown, P. Pagel and M.J. Caplan. The tetraspsanin CD63 enhances the internalization of the H,K-ATPase b-subunit. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (USA) 100: 15560-15565, 2003.

Egan, M.E., M. Pearson, S.A. Weiner, V. Rajendran, D. Rubin, J. Gloeckner-Pagel, S. Canny, K. Du, G. Lukacs and M.J. Caplan . Curcumin, a major constitutent of turmeric, corrects cystic fibrosis defects. Science, 304: 600-602, 2004.

Chauvet, V., X. Tian, H. Husson , D.H. Grimm , T. Wang , T. Hieseberger, P. Igarashi, A.M. Bennett , O. Ibraghimov-Beskrovnaya , S. Somlo  and M.J. Caplan. Mechanical stimuli induce the cleavage and nuclear translocation of the polycystin-1 C-terminus. J. Clin. Invest. 114: 1433-1443, 2004.