Cytokinesis Lab: Difference between revisions
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== Dr. Katie Shannon's Cytokinesis Lab at Missouri S&T == | == Dr. Katie Shannon's Cytokinesis Lab at Missouri S&T == | ||
My major research interest is the assembly and contraction of actomyosin ring in budding yeast. | |||
Other interests are microscopy, synthetic biology and iGEM, and cellular uptake and transport of nanoparticles. | |||
== Assembly and Contraction of the Actomyosin Ring in Budding Yeast == | |||
What is the actomyosin ring? | |||
The actomyosin ring is a structure composed of actin filaments, type II myosin, and other proteins. Myosin is a molecular motor that “walks” along actin filaments. Myosin movement along actin filaments causes a contraction or constriction of the ring. As the actomyosin ring contracts, it pulls the plasma membrane of the cell. This process is called cytokinesis, which is the physical division of one cell into two. | |||
Click here to see a movie of myosin-GFP contraction in a living yeast cell. | |||
Why study budding yeast? | |||
Budding yeast, "Saccharomyces cerevisiae'', are also commonly known as baker's or brewer's yeast. These yeast cells are eukaryotic, and many genes are conserved between yeast and human cells. We hope that by studying the complex process of cytokinesis in these simpler cells, we will learn fundamental concepts that will be applicable to cytokinesis in other cells. | |||
Why is regulation of actomyosin ring assembly and contraction important? | |||
What are our current hypotheses? | |||
Revision as of 12:06, 28 July 2009
Dr. Katie Shannon's Cytokinesis Lab at Missouri S&T
My major research interest is the assembly and contraction of actomyosin ring in budding yeast.
Other interests are microscopy, synthetic biology and iGEM, and cellular uptake and transport of nanoparticles.
Assembly and Contraction of the Actomyosin Ring in Budding Yeast
What is the actomyosin ring?
The actomyosin ring is a structure composed of actin filaments, type II myosin, and other proteins. Myosin is a molecular motor that “walks” along actin filaments. Myosin movement along actin filaments causes a contraction or constriction of the ring. As the actomyosin ring contracts, it pulls the plasma membrane of the cell. This process is called cytokinesis, which is the physical division of one cell into two.
Click here to see a movie of myosin-GFP contraction in a living yeast cell.
Why study budding yeast?
Budding yeast, "Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are also commonly known as baker's or brewer's yeast. These yeast cells are eukaryotic, and many genes are conserved between yeast and human cells. We hope that by studying the complex process of cytokinesis in these simpler cells, we will learn fundamental concepts that will be applicable to cytokinesis in other cells.
Why is regulation of actomyosin ring assembly and contraction important?
What are our current hypotheses?
