Molecular Organisation of Cell Interfaces
Illuminating the architecture of cellular barriers
At the Pombo Garcia Lab, we investigate how the epithelial barrier is formed in the gut, from development to disease. Our research seeks to uncover the fundamental principles that govern how epithelial cells organize in space and time to build robust, functional tissues. By focusing on cell–cell adhesion and apical–basal polarity, we aim to understand how these systems establish and maintain tissue integrity, and how their disruption leads to diseases.
We are an interdisciplinary team of scientists exploring how biological self-assembly shapes epithelial organization, with a focus on how biomolecular condensates contribute to it. Expanding beyond proteins, we investigate how lipids, glycans, and physical principles such as geometry and mechanics influence membrane organization in the gut and how this links to tissue function. To resolve and dynamically track these processes at a relevant scale, we use STED super-resolution microscopy. Our vision is to uncover fundamental principles from molecules to tissues that govern the organization of living systems.
