The goal of the Citi laboratory is to understand at the molecular level how the apical junctional complex of vertebrate epithelial cells regulates signalling to control morphogenesis, differentiation and proliferation.

Epithelial tissues play a fundamental role in the separation of different body compartments, and in the absorption and secretion functions of major organs (kidney, liver, lung, intestine, exocrine and endocrine glands, etc). The vast majority of cancers arises within epithelial organs, and invasion and metastasis correlate with disruption or loss of cell-cell junctions.

We are interested in clarifying how specific protein components of epithelial tight and adherens junctions regulate signaling molecules (Rho family GTPases, GEFs, GAPs, transcription factors) to orchestrate changes in cell shape, motility, and gene expression. 

We use a combination of biochemical, cellular and in vivo approaches, including the generation and characterization of knockout mice, which help us to frame the significance of our discoveries within the context of a whole vertebrate organism.

Please browse the Research and Publications pages for more details of our work!