Abstract:

Primary cilia are long antenna-like projections found on the surface of most eukaryotic cells. Once dismissed as vestigial, these organelles are now recognized as sophisticated cell signaling hubs that integrate mechanical, chemical, and metabolic cues with precision. Recent advances in super-resolution and live imaging have unveiled their intricate 3D architecture, including the surprising presence of motile machinery in these supposedly non-motile structures. We will explore how these dynamic organelles coordinate endocrine function through specialized GPCRs to regulate insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells, challenge traditional classifications by exhibiting dynein-driven motility, and conduct on-site ATP production via ciliary glycolysis and mechanisms of local signal amplification. While much remains unknown about how cilia orchestrate these complex functions within their small volumes, unraveling these mechanisms could change our understanding and treatment of human metabolic disorders. 

Profile:

Dr. Hughes is a Yale physician-scientist studying how pancreatic beta cell cilia regulate insulin secretion. Her lab employs advanced imaging, proteomics, and genetic models to reveal these organelles as active signaling hubs. Key discoveries include motile primary cilia powered by dynein motors, ciliary GPCRs serving as paracrine signaling platforms, and imaging approaches to study cilia ultrastructure. Current work focuses on metabolic compartmentalization within cilia and its functional impact in diabetes.