A doctoral student at Upstate is among the group of scientists who are first to demonstrate -- in a living organism -- how formins help organize muscle structure. Formins are a group of proteins that govern cell shape, adhesion, division and positioning.

 

Lei Mi-Mi had her research paper, “Formins‘ Muscle Building Routine,” published in the July 9 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology. Her photograph, above, was chosen for the cover. She works in the lab of David Pruyne PhD, an assistant professor of Cell and Developmental Biology.

Working with worms, Mi-Mi pinpointed the location of two formins that act as key proteins involved in muscle movement. She also showed how a reduction or absence of those proteins stunted muscle growth. Mi-Mi suggests that what she demonstrated in the worm may also hold true in other species.

Mi-Mi's photo was also chosen for the back of Upstate Health, winter 2013, for a feature called "Science is Art is Science." Check out previous issues, and sign up for a free subscription here: www.upstate.edu/whatsup