Nano-scale organisation of cellular adhesions. Cell migration is a key aspect of many normal processes but also of diseases such as cancers. This project will use a novel fluorescence microscope that can see single proteins to identify how cell adhesions are formed, remodelled and disassembled. This knowledge will help to design better drugs against cancers and novel implantable materials.
RhoA signaling: the nanoscale mechanisms of mechanochemical regulation. This project aims to elucidate a new paradigm for regulating cell signals at the nanoscale level. Cell signalling involves the coordination of multi-molecular networks at the plasma membrane, the interface between the cell and its external environment. These are often thought to involve the assembly of multimolecular complexes through the action of protein scaffolds. This project will focus on how the contractile regulator, ....RhoA signaling: the nanoscale mechanisms of mechanochemical regulation. This project aims to elucidate a new paradigm for regulating cell signals at the nanoscale level. Cell signalling involves the coordination of multi-molecular networks at the plasma membrane, the interface between the cell and its external environment. These are often thought to involve the assembly of multimolecular complexes through the action of protein scaffolds. This project will focus on how the contractile regulator, anillin, controls RhoA signalling by kinetic regulation. In particular, how nanoscale clustering of anillin by the dynamic actomyosin cytoskeleton modulates RhoA signalling for contractility and tissue homeostasis. The outcomes of this project are first and foremost fundamental understanding of how cells communicate with one another.Read moreRead less
Defining mechanisms behind the formation of hierarchical vascular networks. Blood vessels form complex branched networks composed of arteries, capillaries and veins. The development and maintenance of different vessel systems (arteries and veins) is dependent on cell adherence properties within each vessel, yet how these are established and maintained remains unknown. This project aims to analyse the differences in junctional dynamics between sprouting arteries and veins, and to identify arteria ....Defining mechanisms behind the formation of hierarchical vascular networks. Blood vessels form complex branched networks composed of arteries, capillaries and veins. The development and maintenance of different vessel systems (arteries and veins) is dependent on cell adherence properties within each vessel, yet how these are established and maintained remains unknown. This project aims to analyse the differences in junctional dynamics between sprouting arteries and veins, and to identify arterial and venous signalling networks that make and maintain vessel identity. This project will reveal how adhesiveness is regulated in order to make a hierarchical, functional vascular network, with implications for engineering of functional, vascularised organs in the biotech sector.Read moreRead less
How cell shape regulators control cell competition in tissue development. This project aims to determine how cell shape (polarity) regulators affect cell survival in an epithelial tissue. When mutation or wounding perturb cell shape regulators in a tissue cell, signalling pathways are altered that kill the aberrant cells. A surveillance mechanism termed "cell competition" is important to remove the damaged cells. This project will investigate a potential regulator of cell competition, the tyrosi ....How cell shape regulators control cell competition in tissue development. This project aims to determine how cell shape (polarity) regulators affect cell survival in an epithelial tissue. When mutation or wounding perturb cell shape regulators in a tissue cell, signalling pathways are altered that kill the aberrant cells. A surveillance mechanism termed "cell competition" is important to remove the damaged cells. This project will investigate a potential regulator of cell competition, the tyrosine phosphatase PTP61F, in response to perturbation of cell shape regulators, using the vinegar fly, Drosophila, and mammalian systems. This study is expected to reveal biomarkers that can be used to improve organismal fitness to increase productivity or to decrease it for pest control.Read moreRead less
Mechanotransduction: a new paradigm for cadherin junction biology. Cell adhesion is necessary to hold the cells in our tissue together, and is essential for organ function. It is essential for adhesion junctions to resist force that would break them apart. This project investigates how adhesion junctions sense and respond to force acting on cells.
How filopodia connect macrophages to the outside world. Fundamental to life is the ability of cells to sense their surroundings and respond accordingly. This project aims to generate a biological understanding of how certain immune cells carry out such processes, thus enabling them to combat infections.