M. Caplan

Michael Caplan is C.N.H. Long Professor and Chair of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Professor of Cell Biology at Yale Univesrity. After pregraduate studies at Harvard University he obtained a MD and PhD at the University of Yale. His laboratory studies the trafficking of membrane proteins in epithelial cells as they are synthesized and delivered to the cell surface. Ion transport across epithelia is mediated by ion transport proteins. The vast majority of renal solute and fluid transport, for example, is coupled directly or indirectly to the activity of the basolateral Na,K-ATPase. A close relative of the Na,K-ATPase, the gastric H,K-ATPase, is responsible for mediating acid secretion in the stomach. In order to regulate their ion transport properties, epithelial cells carefully control the subcellular distributions and activities of ion transport proteins. Caplan’s lab has identified signals and partner proteins that control the distributions and activities of epithelial ion transport proteins in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we have identified roles for novel receptors and ligands in controlling renal transport and blood pressure homeostasis.