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Associate Professor, Cell and Developmental Biology

• About

  Research Description:
  Molecular motors that generate force and/or motility along cytoskeletal filaments are critical for processes such as cell division, cell motility, intracellular trafficking and ciliary function.  Two large families of molecular motors, kinesins and dyneins, drive transport along microtubule filaments.  Defects in motor-dependent transport are associated with a large variety of diseases including neurodegeneration, cancer, developmental defects, and a variety of diseases collectively termed the ciliopathies.

  Our work is focused on the molecular mechanisms and cellular functions of kinesin motors in mammalian cells. To do this, we use molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry and biophysics approaches. We are currently investigating how posttranslational modifications of the microtubule tracks act as road signs to direct kinesin transport, how kinesin activity is regulated spatially and temporally, and how single kinesin motors coordinate their activities to drive vesicle transport in cells.

• Education

  • Ph.D. Harvard University
  • B.S. University of Michigan

• Selected Publications:

• Articles

  • (2010) Posttranslational modifications of tubulin and the polarized transport of Kinesin-1 in neurons, Molecular Biology of the Cell
  • (2010) ER sliding dynamics and ER-mitochondrial contacts occur on acetylated microtubules, J. Cell Biol.
  • (2010) Ciliary entry of the kinesin-2 motor KIF17 is regulated by importin-b2 and Ran-GTP, Nature Cell Biology
  • (2010) Autoinhibition of the kinesin-2 motor KIF17 via dual intramolecular mechanisms, J. Cell Biol.
  • (2009) Traffic control: Regulation of kinesin motors, Nature Reviews Chemical Cell Biology