Our Research

Lipids are a diverse group of hydrophobic metabolites that function as energy stores, components of membranes, and signaling molecules, and dysregulation of lipid metabolism occurs in many diseases. Whereas lipids have been traditionally studied using in vitro or genetic techniques, chemical biology approaches can enable the rapid and precise interrogation of lipid and membrane biology within living systems. The Baskin Lab deploys a unique blend of chemical biology, biochemistry, and cell biology approaches to develop innovative methods for imaging and editing various classes of lipids in vivo. We are motivated to answer biological questions about how lipids control fundamental processes in the cell, including ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation, membrane trafficking, and regulation of proliferation and the cell cycle. By working at the interface of chemical biology and cell biology, our work enables a virtuous cycle wherein development of new tools propels our biological inquiry while these mechanistic, biological studies in turn motivate the development of additional new methods. Collectively, our studies have elucidated mechanisms of fundamental biological processes and also contributed to the understanding of perturbations in lipid signaling that occur in cancer. Click below on one of the research areas to learn more!