The mechanisms that control the quantity of mineral crystals that are incorporated into the skeleton are poorly understood, even though this is a major contributor to bone strength. Our recent discoveries indicate that intracellular vesicles, including lysosomes, are involved in mineral secretion by osteoblasts (bone–forming cells) and osteocytes (cells embedded in the bone). This project will use cell culture techniques, gene knockdown studies, and cell-based assays – such as confocal immunofluorescence, molecular biology, reporter assays, and quantitative PCR techniques – to determine the function of lysosomes in osteocytes and osteoblasts.
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