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About the Program in Cell and Developmental Biology
Research in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology explores
the molecular and biochemical mechanisms of cellular function and development.
Research in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology is
in several exciting areas:
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wild-type paxillin cells

paxillin lacking LD4 cells
Cells expressing wild-type paxillin (top) or paxillin lacking LD4 (bottom) were scratch-wounded followed by fixation 12 hours post-wounding. Tubulin (Green) and alpha-mannosidase II (Red) were labeled to note cell polarization and Golgi orientation. Cells expressing paxillin lacking LD4 are unable to reorient the Golgi towards the wound edge. From the lab of Christopher Turner, PhD.

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- Assembly and Dynamics of Myofibrils —The aim is to
understand how muscle proteins become organized into interacting subunits
that form the contractile myofibrils of skeletal and cardiac muscle. The
ability to follow this process in living cells expressing fluorescently
tagged molecules presents the opportunity to analyze the dynamics and binding
interactions of wild type and mutant proteins in situ. The emphasis is
on using the latest imaging techniques with molecular biology methods to
test hypotheses about the formation of myofibrils and to determine how
mutated sarcomeric proteins produce changes in myofibrillar properties
that lead to cardiac and skeletal muscle disease.
- Genetics and cell biology of organ morphogenesis —includes
the study of organogenesis during embryo development, mechanisms of establishing
left-right asymmetry and genetic basis of congenital heart defects.
- Genetics of ciliary motility &mdash focus is on identification
of genes important for the assembly and motility of cilia, to reveal mechanisms
of cargo recognition for transport of ciliary precursors during assembly,
the role of chaperones in pre-assembly of dynein motors, and the function
of the central pair complex in dynein regulation.
- Mammalian neural development and regeneration —includes
the ability of stem cells to repair injuries in the central nervous system,
the role of specific genes in development of somatosensory connections
in the neonate, and development of the neuromuscular junction.
- Mechanisms of actin assembly during endocytosis —includes
work on the mechanism of induction of actin assembly by the Arp2/3 complex
activators and analysis of the role of molecular motor protein myosin-1. This
work uses biochemical, genetic and microscopic approaches in model organism
fission yeast S. pombe.
- Role of class I myosins in kidney functions—includes
analysis of the roles of myosin motors in regulation of renal filtration,
epithelial cell migration and adhesion, and membrane trafficking using mouse
and cell culture models.
- Role of cell adhesion in regulating the cytoskeleton and cell motility —includes
work on regulation of the leukocyte actin cytoskeleton by integrin activation,
regulation of fibroblast adhesion to the extracellular matrix through the
formation of focal adhesion complexes, and regulation of flagellar motility
in response to changes in intracellular calcium ion signaling.
- Role of Formins in animals —includes
biochemical characterization of formin/cytoskeleton interactions, and determination
of cell- and tissue-specific functions for different
formin isoforms using C. elegans as a genetic model system.
Other projects include: studies of embryonic blood vessel
development and of signaling cascades that control cellular proliferation
and differentiation.
Students and faculty use a variety of research methods including sophisticated
light microscopy (automated motility tracking, laser confocal microscopy,
high-resolution dark-field imaging, real-time fluorescence microscopy,
high-sensitivity digital cameras and image processing), electron microscopy,
tissue culture, stereotactic surgery, flow cytometry and a complete range
of molecular and biochemical techniques.
This program awards a PhD degree in Anatomy and Cell Biology.
Joseph W. Sanger, PhD, Chair
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
SUNY Upstate Medical University
1135 Weiskotten Hall
766 Irving Ave.
Syracuse, NY 13210
315-464-5120
www.upstate.edu/cdb
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