Programs: Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology

Research in the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology group is focused on the molecular mechanisms that control cellular function and morphogenesis as well as cellular behavior in developing organisms. Questions that concern the group include: cell polarity, regulation of the cytoskeleton in cell function and shape, membrane trafficking, regulation of differential gene expression, developmental morphogenesis, and signal transduction. Training of graduate students and post-doctoral scientists in the group is multidisciplinary and includes genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry and microscopy.

Interactions between neurons and their environment.
Dr. Brian Ackley

The function of Ewing sarcoma proteins in mitosis.
Dr. Mizuki Azuma

The role of posttranslational modification by SUMO on cell division cycle
Dr. Yoshiaki Azuma

Regulation of cell shape in nematode tubule formation
Dr. Matthew Buechner

Transport and positioning of messenger RNA in developing organisms
Dr. Robert Cohen

Identification of molecular switches that control cell fate decisions during development
Dr. Victoria Corbin

Molecular virology and pathogenesis of herpes simplex virus
Dr. David Davido

Using computational modeling to understand how macromolecular structures assemble from their component parts
Dr. Eric Deeds

Mechanisms that regulate growth and maintenance of microtubular organelles
Dr. William Dentler

Role of tau in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative disorders
Dr. Chris Gamblin

Mechanisms of developmental gene regulation and pathogenesis for Chlamydia
Dr. P. Scott Hefty

Designing small-molecule modulators of protein function using computational and experimental techniques
Dr. John Karanicolas

Mechanisms thatregulate and modify nerve cell interactions
Dr. Paul Kelly

Developmental morphogenesis of the nervous system and other organs
Dr. Erik Lundquist

The role of the APC protein in the suppression of colon cancer
Dr. Kristi Neufeld

Mitosis, gamma-tubulin function, cell cycle regulation and fungal secondary metabolites
Dr. Berl R. Oakley

The cytoskeleton in cell division, development and neuromuscular function
Dr. Kathy Suprenant

The structural basis of assembly, dynamics and function of molecular complexes from viruses and bacterial injectosome by using X-ray crystallography and electron cryo-microscopy
Dr. Liang Tang

RNAi mechanisms and germline development
Dr. Lisa Timmons

Morphogenetic mechanisms of limb development
Dr. Robert Ward

Molecular therapy targeting cancer and cancer stem cells
Dr. Liang Xu