Assembly and function of cytoskeletal systems in eukaryotic and prokaryoticcells

项目概要/摘要 我的实验室寻求细胞生物学基本问题的答案。总的来说，我们研究自我组装 复杂的大分子结构，特别是细胞骨架聚合物和网络， 在活细胞中。为了了解分子特性如何控制活细胞的结构和功能，我们 在多个规模上进行定量研究：（一）单分子和批量生物化学研究， 细胞骨架成分;（ii）对重建的复杂细胞结构进行生物物理学和显微镜研究 在体外;和（iii）活细胞中细胞骨架系统的细胞生物学和高分辨率显微镜研究。 我们的工作目前涉及以下几个方面：（1）肌动蛋白网络马达的功能和调节， 利用Arp 2/3复合体;（2）伪足组装和变形虫运动;（3）自噬和 内膜运动;（4）核肌动蛋白组装和DNA修复;（5） 真细菌和古细菌中的细胞骨架元件。作为一个国际财团的一部分，我们最近还 开始研究SARS-CoV 2如何在受感染的宿主细胞中诱导长的分支丝状伪足的形成 以及这些丝状伪足在病毒外出和传播中的作用。

Project Summary/Abstract My laboratory pursues answers to fundamental questions in cell biology. Broadly, we study how self-assembly of complex macromolecular structures —especially cytoskeletal polymers and networks— creates spatial order in living cells. To understand how molecular properties govern the architecture and function of living cells, we perform quantitative studies at multiple size scales: (i) single-molecule and bulk biochemical studies of cytoskeletal components; (ii) biophysical and microscopical studies of complex cellular structures reconstituted in vitro; and (iii) cell biological and high-resolution microscopy studies of cytoskeletal systems in living cells. Our work currently addresses the following topics: (1) function and regulation of actin network motors that make use of the Arp2/3 complex; (2) pseudopod assembly and amoeboid locomotion; (3) autophagy and endomembrane movement; (4) nuclear actin assembly and DNA repair; and (5) assembly and function of cytoskeletal elements in eubacteria and archaea. As part of an international consortium we have also recently begun work to understand how SARS-CoV2 induces formation of long, branched filopodia in infected host cells and what function these filopodia play in viral egress and spread.