Structural Engineering Principles of Centrosome Assembly by Super Resolution Microscopy Imaging

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My research program is aimed at determining the engineering principles of cell function through the analysis of its macromolecular assemblies. I focused my attention on the centrosome, an organelle critical for human development, which organizes the microtubule cytoskeleton. Centrosomes are composed of two large structures: the centriole, a 9-fold symmetric cylindrical structure encircled by microtubule blades, and the pericentriolar material, traditionally described and understood as an amorphous, electron-dense material that surrounds the centrioles. The pericentriolar material was discovered over 100 years ago, but there had been no significant advances in understanding its organization. This lack of knowledge is in part due to the shortage of effective methods to study the structural organization of macromolecular assemblies within the cell. I recently designed, in collaboration with other scientists, a super-resolution imaging and analysis strategy capable of determining the position of proteins with nanometer precision.