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Message from the Chair
The mission of the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (CMM) is to provide pre- and post-doctoral, medical and graduate education in an interdisciplinary environment through research activities, to advance knowledge of biological structure as related to function and disease from the molecular level to the whole organism.
Announcements
Rogers Lab publishes organellogenesis study in the Journal of Cell Biology (December 17, 2019)
In a new study of organelle biogenesis from the laboratory of Gregory Rogers, PhD, former CMM student and postdoc Tiffany McLamarrah and colleagues characterize an early step in centriole duplication. They show that Polo-like kinase hyperphosphorylates the assembly factor Ana2, which increases the affinity of Ana2 for the G-box domain of Sas4, promoting Ana2’s accumulation at the procentriole and, consequently, daughter centriole formation. PMID: 31841145
CMM Master's Student Receives 2019 Centennial Achievement Award (December 3, 2019)
Michelle Ennabe, CMM Master's Student, is one of three Masters Awardees of this year's prestigious Centennial Achievement Award. Founded in 1987, this honor recognizes graduating students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and contributions to community and family despite facing challenging obstacles along the way. Read more here.
Mouneimne Lab publishes mechanosensing study in Journal of Cell Biology (October 14, 2019)
In this newest study from the laboratory of Gus Mouneimne, PhD, recently-graduated CMM student Julieann Puleo and colleagues discovered that EVL, the Ena/VASP protein, is crucial for actin polymerization at focal adhesions (FAs). Importantly, they determined that EVL-mediated FA actin polymerization regulates FA maturation and mechanosensing, which are significant steps in mechanically-directed motility and durotactic invasion. This work is a significant contribution to our understanding of how cells interact with their microenvironment in normal and pathological contexts. PMID: 31594807
Dr. Vercelli's research mentioned in the Washington Post (September 30, 2019)
We are (fortunately) not alone. Microbes should no longer be seen as foes that need to be eliminated at all costs. Work from Donata Vercelli, PhD's laboratory recently featured in the Washington Post shows that living in traditional farming environments means living in a place that is extremely rich in microbes — the right microbes that our immune system has evolved to live with and learn from. The constellation of organisms found in soil and on farm animals programs how a child responds to allergens throughout her lifetime. This programming likely starts in utero and continues to shape the immune system during the first few years of life. Read more here.
Maggert Lab publishes heterochromatin study in PNAS (September 16, 2019)
A majority of the human genome consists elements called transposable elements – the fossils of evolutionary battles between ancient viruses and their human hosts. The human genome silences these elements by creating a specialized structure called heterochromatin on top of them. Dr. Keith Maggert and graduate student Farah Bughio's study in PNAS shows that heterochromatin is not as stable and reliable a protector as was previously thought, and instead turns on and off randomly and repeatedly throughout life, allowing transposable elements the freedom to once again move around the genome and cause damage. More information can be found here: PMID 31527269
Dr. Ledford awarded NHLBI grant to study the link between airway infections and obstructive lung disease (September 4, 2019)
Asthma and COPD are the most commonly diagnosed chronic lung diseases in the United States. While it is now recognized that a percentage of severe asthmatics develop fixed airway obstruction, little is known pertaining to the basic underlying mechanisms of this progression. Julie Ledford, PhD and her research team will examine the role of club cell secreted protein (CC16) in the context of airway infection as a previously overlooked link in understanding this progression. These studies may provide a novel therapeutic approach for treating individuals with low circulating CC16 in order to prevent lung function decline over time.
Upcoming Events
Jan
28
RCR Spring Workshop: Ethics of Human Subjects Research
Tuesday 9:00am to 10:30am
Date: Tuesday, January 28
Time: 9:00-10:30am (more info here)
Location: Environmental & Natural Resources 2, Room S215 (Tucson)
Facilitators: Mariette Marsh, Director - Human Subjects Protection Program and HIPAA Privacy Program
Description: Covers the ethical importance of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the process for submitting projects to the Human Subjects Protection Program (HSPP). Counts towards RCR Certificate.
Jan
31
Seminar in Cardiovascular Biology
Friday 9:00am to 10:00am
Speaker(s):
Robbert van der Pijl (Ottenheijm Lab)
Location:
Sarver Heart Center 4137
Time:
9-10am
Feb
07
Seminar in Cardiovascular Biology
Friday 9:00am to 10:00am
Speaker(s):
Gerrie Farman (Gregorio Lab) and Johan Lindvist (Granzier Lab)
Location:
Sarver Heart Center 4137
Time:
9-10am
Feb
11
Seminar in Cardiovascular Biology
Tuesday 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Speaker(s):
Dr. Vandana Gupta, Harvard University
Location:
Sarver Heart Center 4137
Time:
1-2pm
Feb
21
Seminar in Cardiovascular Biology
Friday 9:00am to 10:00am
Speaker(s):
Miensheng Chu (Gregorio Lab) and Alexey Dvornkov (Colson Lab)
Location:
Sarver Heart Center 4137
Time:
9-10am
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