Membrane Trafficking in Platelet Production

Platelets, the smallest blood cells that prevent bleeding, are derived from megakaryocytes in the bone marrow, in a process called thrombopoiesis. The molecular mechanisms that regulate cytoplasmic changes of megakaryocytes into platelets are largely unknown. Our major goal is to understand if and how different subcellular membranes contribute to the formation of platelets. By using different genetic fluorescent probes, we aim to spatially and temporally identify different subcellular membranes to reveal their dynamics during megakaryocyte maturation and platelet formation.