Key research themes
1. How do actin nucleation and elongation factors cooperatively specify distinct actin architectures and their cellular functions?
This research area concentrates on the biochemical mechanisms by which various actin nucleation factors and elongation factors orchestrate the assembly of structurally and functionally specialized actin networks. Understanding this is crucial for elucidating how cells spatially and temporally regulate processes like motility, intracellular transport, and morphogenesis by producing dendritic, bundled, or isotropic actin structures.
2. What are the molecular and biochemical consequences of pathogenic mutations in cytoskeletal actin isoforms on actin filament interactions and cellular function?
This theme investigates how specific mutations in non-muscle actin isoforms, such as β-actin and γ-actin, perturb key interactions with actin-binding proteins and motors, influencing filament dynamics and leading to human diseases like Baraitser–Winter syndrome and thoracic aortic aneurysms. Such work elucidates mutation-specific mechanisms affecting actin cytoskeleton integrity and downstream cellular processes.
3. How can reliable purification and isoform-specific biochemical characterization of human and non-muscle actins be achieved to facilitate precise functional studies?
This line of research prioritizes developing methods to purify specific actin isoforms, particularly β- and γ-actin, which are prevalent in non-muscle cells but traditionally challenging to isolate in pure and functional forms. Accurate purification enables comparison of isoform-specific biochemical properties and protein interactions, thereby addressing gaps from prior reliance on muscle actin as a proxy.
