Iyer Lab

Primary Calvarial Osteoblasts Immunostained

Electron Micrograph of Osteoblasts

Welcome to Iyer Lab

 

Our research focuses on the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis in context of skeletal health. Osteoblasts are bone matrix synthesizing cells and rely on their extensive ER for secretion of proteins. Accumulation of misfolded proteins in the ER results in ER stress and activates the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) to restore homeostasis. Our lab leverages a combination of cell-specific deletion of UPR genes in mouse models with fluorescence and electron microscopy based bone imaging techniques to understand the molecular mechanisms by which ER regulates osteoblast differentiation.