Our research is directed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms that regulate the clathrin-mediated endocytic pathway. Clathrin-mediated endocytosis is a ubiquitous internalization pathway that is critical to a host of biological processes that range from coordinating cell signaling events during development to maintainting neuronal transmission.

In particular, we are testing the hypothesis that endocytic coat protein phosphorylation plays a critical step in regulating internalization events. Using a combination of biochemcial and cell biological approaches in mammalian systems, we are examining the regulation and consequence of phosphorylation events mediated by AAK1 and CVAK104 — two kinases that specifically target the mu 2 and beta 2 subunits of the adaptor protein complex AP2, respectively.