MICROTUBULE RECONSTRUCTIONS OF MIGRATORY NEURONS

University Of Colorado, Boulder CO

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. Primary support for the subproject and the subproject's principal investigator may have been provided by other sources, including other NIH sources. The Total Cost listed for the subproject likely represents the estimated amount of Center infrastructure utilized by the subproject, not direct funding provided by the NCRR grant to the subproject or subproject staff. The Baas Laboratory is interested in the cellular and molecular mechanisms that orchestrate microtubules during development. The Bass lab uses live-cell imaging of microtubules in neurons, together with manipulations of the relevant molecular motor proteins such as cytoplasmic dynein and kinesin-5. These studies also include a strong focus on the microtubule-severing proteins, namely katanin and spastin. The studies are aimed at understanding how axons grow, how dendrites are differentiated, how axonal branches are formed, and how growth cones navigate to find their targets. We are using electron tomography to study the 3D organization of microtubules in cultured, migratory neurons. We predict that some microtubules have their minus ends in the centrosome but many will not, and we suspect that microtubules vary in length and slide against one another using molecular motor proteins. In particular, the role of Kinesin-5 in neuronal growth and migration will be studied. Aditi Falnikar, a graduate student in the Baas lab has spent 2 weeks in Boulder to prepare specimens, collect data and learn the programs for reconstruction and modeling