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The actin cytoskeleton provides both the force and the framework for cell motility, adhesion, and intracellular organization. Here at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research (La Jolla, California), my laboratory studies multimolecular complexes involved in the assembly and regulation of the actin cytoskeleton at the leading edge of motile cells. Structural characterization of these multimolecular protein complexes reveals the molecular mechanisms underlying cell growth, differentiation and migration, as well as the role of these interactions in tumor invasion, infection and metastasis. In particular, we study the role of Arp2/3 complex in actin filament network assembly, the role of myosin in cell migration, and the role of actin binding proteins (fimbrin, fascin and vinculin) in providing a scaffold for cell protrusions and adhesion.The nature of actin filaments, precludes high resolution determination using X-ray or NMR. Electron microscopy, in particular tomography is our principal method for data acquisition, allowing us in situ and in vitro characterization of assemblies and organelles, at close to physiological environment (cryo-tomography). In house training will be provided for rotation students interested in structural /functional determination of the actin cytoskeleton machineries.

Track(s):
Molecular Pathology


Cancer Biology