University of California-Berkeley · BiochemistryLysosomal Dynamics Lab
Roberto Zoncu · Berkeley, California
Research Focus
Dr. Roberto Zoncu’s lab at UC Berkeley focuses on how cells sense nutrients and signals through lysosomes, which are essential for cellular health and metabolism. They study the role of the mTORC1 protein in diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration, aiming to discover new therapeutic strategies. By exploring how cholesterol interacts with lysosomes, the lab aims to uncover mechanisms leading to kidney cancer and neurodegeneration, particularly in conditions like Niemann-Pick type C disease.
mTORC1lysosomescholesterolkidney cancerneurodegenerationnutrient sensingTFEBmetabolic regulationNiemann-Pick type Cautophagy
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how mTORC1 signaling is regulated by cholesterol at lysosomes.
AIM 02Elucidate mechanisms of TFEB in kidney tumorigenesis.
AIM 03Understand the role of lysosomes in neuronal cell health and neurodegeneration.
AIM 04Characterize the metabolic pathways involved in Niemann-Pick type C disease.
AIM 05Identify potential therapeutic targets for kidney and neurodegenerative diseases.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemouse modelsbiochemical assayshigh throughput screeninggenetic manipulationWestern blotCRISPRmicroscopymetabolomicsRNA sequencing
Output against the department
Publications125bottom 35% of dept.261st of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations27ktop 13% of dept.54th of 402
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.