Zanetti lab

Membrane Architecture Laboratory

Eukaryotic cells, which make up complex life forms like plants, animals and fungi, are organised in membrane-bound compartments. These cells constantly and actively exchange material using cargo-loaded carriers, or vesicles, that break off from the membrane.

Tight regulation of this vesicle traffic ensures that each class of protein is delivered to the right place at the right time, so that cells can function smoothly and communicate with each other. 

The first step in trafficking, cargo exit from an organelle called the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), is mediated by a group of proteins called the COPII coat.

This process is fundamental for cell survival and for the secretion of molecules such as hormones, antibodies, and connective tissue components. In fact, the subtlest defects in COPII lead to severe developmental disorders.

In our lab we use techniques such as fluorescence and electron microscopy to see exactly what happens when these vesicles are first formed across a wide range of biological scales. We combine this with biochemical, genetic and functional experiments to better understand how COPII works and what is its role in membrane remodelling.