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Ben Ritchie
2010-present |
How does Abl regulate the cytoskeleton during cell migration and morphogenesis? |
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During animal development, cells undergo coordinated changes in shape and position. This process of morphogenesis requires cell-cell and cell-cell matrix junctions as well as the actin cytoskeleton. In epithelial cells, the major sites of cell-cell contact are adherens junctions (AJs), a multi-protein complex that links the cytoskeleton of adjacent cells. While the key components that make up AJs are known, the signals that regulate the assembly and disassembly of this complex and its connection to the cytoskeleton are poorly understood. Recently, we have focused our attention on the roles of several candidate AJ regulators. |
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One potential regulator, the non-receptor tyrosine kinase Abelson (Abl), is required for cell shape change and organization of the actin cytoskeleton throughout fly embryogenesis, from the syncytial embryo to the development of the CNS. Abl appears to control the balance of actin regulators (e.g. Enabled, Ena; red in the image to the right) localized to different cellular sites, thus shaping actin assembly (green at right). We are intersted in the mechanisms that regulate Abl activity and localization, and the mechanisms by which Abl, in turn, regulates the actin cytoskeleton. Our insights into Abl's mechanism of action may also help reveal how its inappropriate activation can trigger human leukemia. |
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Publications
Yu W, Ritchie BJ, Su X, Zhou J, Meigs TE, Denker BM. (2011) Identification
of polycystin-1 and Gα12 binding regions necessary for regulation of apoptosis.
Cellular Signalling 23, 213-21.