Actin-microtubule cross-talk in transient cell arrays

University Of Wisconsin Madison, Madison WI

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Abstract

[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the experiments described in this proposal is to characterize the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying coordinated microtubule-actomyosin interaction. We will employ three model systems to understand how these two protein polymer systems direct the rapid establishment of transient cytoskeletal arrays: 1) Xenopus oocyte wound healing; 2) Cytokinesis in Xenopus embryos; 3) Nuclear anchoring and meiotic spindle assembly in Xenopus eggs. For the first two model systems, we will ask how localized signals that direct recruitment of specific players are generated, and how microtubules control those signals. For the last model system, we will ask whether a molecular motor-myosin-10- works as multifunctional crosslinker. To answer these questions, we will use a combination of molecular biology, high resolution live cell imaging, and biochemistry. The successful completion of the proposed experiments will not only answer basic questions in biology, it will also provide critical insights into processes such as wound repair, cancer, birth defects and human infertility. [unreadable] [unreadable]