Cell & Developmental Biology

The laboratories in this group are engaged in the study of the structure, function and development of cells and tissues.  Our research interests range from investigations of the structure and function of individual proteins and the assembly of cellular membranes and organelles, to the molecular mechanisms of interactions between cells and between organisms and their environment.  Our research methodologies cover a broad spectrum of techniques and experimental approaches, employ state-of-the-art instrumentation for biological imaging and protein structure analysis, and utilize the advantages of a variety of model genetic organisms such as yeast, nematodes, plants, fruit flies and zebrafish.  Collaborative activity within this group creates a lively and productive research environment and provides comprehensive training opportunities.

Mcnew Lab's Schematic model of membrane fusion from the perspective of membrane lipids

Faculty links:

Bonnie Bartel:  Genetic approaches to understanding peroxisome biogenesis and function; plant responses to and metabolism of the growth hormone auxin (lab home page).

Kathleen M. Beckingham:  Molecular genetic studies of calcium sensor proteins and gravitaxic signaling.

Janet Braam:  Regulation and functions of calcium sensor proteins and cell wall modifying enzymes in plant growth and responses to the environment (lab home page).

Daniel Carson:  Expression and function of cell surface components involved in embryonic development and tumor cell models. Study of the heparan sulfate proteoglycan perlecan.

Studies of corneal development in the Lwigale Lab

Mary C. (Cindy) Farach-Carson:  The role of extracellular matrix in the progression of cancer; the use of proteoglycans in the engineering of connective tissues.

Michael C. Gustin:  Molecular genetics of signal transduction pathways mediating stress-induced transcriptional responses in yeast and Drosophila.

Dmitri Lapotko: Interdisciplinary research via three major avenues: fundamental studies of physics, optics and biology of plasmonic nanobubbles (PNBs), studies of PNB-induced bioeffects in cells and organisms, and the development of PNB technologies for cell level imaging, theranostics, surgery, gene therapy and drug delivery.

Peter Lwigale :  Molecular regulation of neural crest cells during corneal development and neural crest-derived stromal keratocytes during cornea regeneration; using the quail, chick, and mouse embryos as a model systems.

Kathleen S. Matthews:  Structure and function studies on genetic regulatory proteins.

James A. McNew:   Molecular mechanism of biological membrane fusion; membrane protein expression and reconstitution, intracellular vesicular transport; functional reconstitution of exocytosis; role of SNARE proteins in yeast sporulation and cytokinesis; analysis of cell-cell fusion (lab home page).

Drosophila development studies in the Stern Lab

Michael Stern:  Genetic dissection of intercellular signaling pathways within Drosophila peripheral nerves that control neuronal excitability and glial growth.

Charles R. Stewart:  Bacteriophage molecular genetics:  mechanisms of host-takeover during bacteriophage infection; mechanisms of bactericidal gene action.

Daniel Wagner:  Analysis of early development of the zebrafish embryo to determine the mechanisms responsible for the control and execution of vertebrate morphogenetic movements.

Weiwei Zhong :  Development of high-throughput technologies for genetic studies, modeling and analysis of genetic interaction networks, performing large-scale genetic screens in the model system C. elegans (lab  home page).