Actin Dynamics and Actin-Based Motility

We are studying the mechanism of cell locomotion. What aspects of cellular locomotion involve interactions between actin and myosin motor proteins? Are there non-myosin actin-based motor poteins? Is actin polymerization and depolymerization used to generate force? How are actin polymer dynamics regulated?

Microtubules & Mitotic Spindles

The mitotic spindle is the structure responsible for the segregation of chomosomes at mitosis. How is the spindle assembled? What factors regulate the dynamics of microtubules during the cell cycle?

Chromosomes & Kinetochores

The cell's DNA is packaged into chromosomes. This packaging is necesary for efficient segregation of chromosomes at mitosis. How is the condensation of interphase chromatin into mitotic chromosomes regulated? What are the proteins that make up the mitotic chromosome? The kinetochore is a structure located at the centromere of each chromosome that binds to the microtubules of the mitotic spindle and mediates the segregation of sister chromatids at mitosis. What are the proteins localized to the kinetochore? Does the kinetochore generate force?