# Biophysical regulation of intercellular communication by the glycocalyx

> **NIH NIH R01** · CORNELL UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $47,417

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
In a multicellular organism, every decision and action taken by a cell depends on communication with its
neighbors. Lethal diseases, such as cancer, can arise when normal communication channels are disrupted. In
our overarching project, we investigate two specialized communication protocols that serve in the exchange of
complex information packets between participating cells. In the first type, cells package proteins and genetic
material into tiny, membrane-encapsulated containers, called vesicles, for delivery to recipient cells. In the
second protocol, cells extend long and thin membrane tubules that form highways between participating cells for
free or regulated exchange of cellular contents. Our central hypothesis is that these two important forms of
intercellular communication are regulated by sugary polymers that cells assemble on their outer membrane. Like
a compressed gas hovering over the cells, we propose that these sugary polymers can generate a pressure that
makes it easier to bend the membrane into the spherical and tubular forms required for vesicles and intercellular
highways. Thus, we anticipate that cells can ramp up communication by assembling more sugary polymers on
the cell surface, or, conversely, suppress communication through a reduction of cell-surface polymers. In this
proposal, our aims are to (1) determine how and what type of information is exchanged through the membrane
bridges; (2) identify how the formation of the membrane bridges are controlled by the internal cellular skeleton
and its regulators; and (3) determine the optimal conditions for vesicle generation and transfer of messages to
participating cells.
The purpose of this administrative supplement is to support the upgrade of a confocal microscope that is the
primary imaging system in the project. The upgrade includes an environmental control system and specialized
objectives that will allow us to dynamically monitor communication between living cells in 2D and 3D cultures.
The new understanding that we seek to develop should have broad relevance in biomedicine. In particular,
aggressive cancer cells often produce and attach unusual numbers of sugary polymers on their outer membrane.
Thus, our studies could provide new insight into how intercellular communication goes awry in cancer, and how
we might intervene therapeutically to normalize and correct the flow of information among our cells.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10389399
- **Project number:** 3R01GM138692-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** CORNELL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Matthew J Paszek
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $47,417
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-06-05 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10389399

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10389399, Biophysical regulation of intercellular communication by the glycocalyx (3R01GM138692-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10389399. Licensed CC0.

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