Understanding VAV2-dependent cell migration process through characterization of interactions with ERM proteins.

细胞骨架的重组是一个高度保守的分子过程，是单细胞和多细胞生物生存所必需的。细胞骨架是由数百个分子组成的复杂结构，这些分子同时工作以维持细胞的基础设施或对刺激做出反应来移动细胞。他说，我们的首要目标是了解调节细胞迁移的分子过程。为此，我们的团队正在努力破译我们在鸟嘌呤核苷酸交换因子VAV2和ERM家族成员Ezrin之间发现的一种新的蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用是如何共同调控细胞迁移的。我们正在进行的工作表明，这两种蛋白质在体内相互作用，并有助于调节细胞迁移的信号级联反应刺激。我们计划的结果将扩大我们对分子过程的了解，这些分子过程参与调节生物过程所必需的信号事件，包括细胞骨架重组、细胞迁移和吞噬作用。我们很荣幸发现了一种新的蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用，并能够长期继续我们的计划。为该项目做出贡献的本科生和研究生将在分子和细胞生物学、信息学分析和知识翻译方面经历不同的培训。

The reorganization of cytoskeleton is a highly conserved molecular process that is required by single and multi-cell organisms to survive. The cytoskeleton is a complex structure comprised of hundreds of molecules that work synchronously to maintain the infrastructure of the cell or to move cells in response to stimuli.       Our overarching goal is to understand molecular processes that regulate cell migration. To this end, our group is working on deciphering how a new protein-protein interaction we discovered between the guanine nucleotide exchange factor VAV2 and ERM-family member EZRIN, work together to regulate cell migration. Our work in progress shows that these two proteins interact in vivo and contribute to signalling cascades that regulate cell migration in response to stimuli. The outcomes from our program will expand our knowledge of the molecular processes that are involved in mediating the signalling events that are necessary for biological processes that include cytoskeleton reorganization, cell migration, and phagocytosis. We are privileged to have made the discovery of a new protein-protein interaction and to be able to continue our program on a long-term basis. Undergraduate and graduate students contributing to this program will experience diverse training in molecular and cellular biology, informatics analysis and knowledge translation.