# Molecular mechanisms that control polarity and asymmetric cell division

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF OREGON · 2024 · $396,711

## Abstract

Project Abstract
Animal cells are asymmetric, often containing different proteins at distinct areas of the
membrane. For example, the cells that line our digestive tract are poised to take in nutrients
from one side of the cell and deliver them to the rest of the body at the other side. This proposal
examines the activity of the Par complex, a set of proteins responsible for creating and
maintaining different regions of animal cell membranes. We are also examining how cellular
asymmetries are translated into the complex organization seen in animal tissues and organs.
One mechanism for creating structure within tissues is to create different cell types, such as
neurons with the brain. In general, our work aims to understand how cells process information to
specifically target polarity and fate determinants to the appropriate region of the cell at the right
time, activate these complexes once they're localized, and how the activity of these complexes
is translated into complex cellular functions, such as differentiation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10877826
- **Project number:** 5R35GM127092-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
- **Principal Investigator:** Kenneth E Prehoda
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $396,711
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2028-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10877826

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10877826, Molecular mechanisms that control polarity and asymmetric cell division (5R35GM127092-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10877826. Licensed CC0.

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