Assembly and function of cytoskeletal systems in eukaryotic and prokaryoticcells

项目摘要/摘要 我的实验室正在寻求细胞生物学基本问题的答案。概括地说，我们研究自组装是如何 复杂的大分子结构--特别是细胞骨架聚合物和网络结构--创造了空间秩序 在活细胞中。为了了解分子特性如何支配活细胞的结构和功能，我们 在多种规模下进行定量研究：(I)单分子和散装生物化学研究 细胞骨架组件；(2)重组复杂细胞结构的生物物理和显微研究 以及(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。 我们目前的工作涉及以下主题：(1)肌动蛋白网络马达的功能和调节 利用Arp2/3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)组装和功能。 真细菌和古菌中的细胞骨架元素。作为一个国际财团的一部分，我们最近还 开始了解SARS-CoV2如何在受感染的宿主细胞中诱导形成长而分枝的丝状足 以及这些丝状伪足在病毒扩散和传播中所起的作用。

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.