Research Topics at LMCB/CBU

Cell Biology

The cytoskeleton . The actin and microtubule cytoskeletons play a critical role in many aspects of cell behaviour, from cell cycle to cell migration. It is a major focus of interest of five group leaders:

Baum (mechanisms that control cell and tissue morphogenesis during normal development and in cancer)
Cramer (actin and microtubules in cell migration)
Fujita (mammalian epithelial junction assembly)
Goda (mammalian synapse remodelling)
Pichaud (Epithelial morphogenesis and directed cell migration in Drosophila )

Protein trafficking and signal transduction. The ability to organize the intracellular distribution of proteins and lipids is a defining feature of all eukaryotic cells, while the transfer of information from extracellular cues through to intracellular biochemical pathways is the basis of all cellular regulation. It is a major focus for twelve groups:

Cutler (trafficking & the haemostatic/inflammatory function of endothelial cells)
Fujita (endocytosis of cadherins in epithelial cells)
Goda (activity-dependent effects at the mammalian synapse)
Lesa (biological role of complex lipids)
Marsh (chemokine receptor endocytosis, HIV life cycle)
Mole (intracellular trafficking and storage diseases)
Mudge (PIns signalling)
Nurrish ( C. elegans receptor-regulated neurosecretion)
Pichaud (G protein coupled receptor signaling and cytoskeleton dynamics)
Pitcher (G protein coupled receptor signalling and endocytosis)
Riccio (signalling by NGF in neurons)
Saiardi (role of IP7 mediated phosphorylation in secretion)

Cell polarity and morphogenesis . Cell function is intimately linked to cell morphology and this in turn is controlled by the polarized distribution of proteins and lipids in cells. It is a major focus for four groups:

Baum (mechanisms that control cell and tissue morphogenesis during normal development and in cancer)
Cramer (polarity of actin cytsokeleton)
Fujita (mammalian epithelial morphogenesis)
Pichaud (Epithelial morphogenesis and directed cell migration in Drosophila)

Cell cycle . The control of cell proliferation, cell growth and cell death has received a huge amount of attention over the last two decades, but is far from being well understood. Five groups are working in this area:

Baum (mechanisms that control cell and tissue morphogenesis during normal development and in cancer)
de Bruin (cell cycle regulated transcription and genome integrity)
Cramer (actin cytoskeleton during mitosis)
Fujita (contact inhibition of cell cycle in epithelial cells)
Lloyd (control of proliferation, growth, senescence)

Human Disease Links:

Neuronal disorders . Eight groups work on neuronal cell biology:

Cutler (neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinoses, Batten disease)
Goda (activity-dependent remodelling of mammalian synapses)
Lesa (complex lipids and neurodegeneration in C. elegans )
Lloyd (Schwann cell/neuron interactions)
Mole (neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinoses, Batten disease)
Mudge (mechanism of action of mood-affecting drugs)
Nurrish (regulation of synaptic activity at neuromuscular junctions in C. elegans )
Riccio (NGF-induced differentiation and survival of mammalian neurons

Cancer. Six labs work in this area:

Baum (mechanisms that control cell and tissue morphogenesis during normal development and in cancer)
de Bruin (cell cycle regulated transcription and genome integrity)
Cramer (cytoskeleton in mitosis, cell migration, clearance of apoptotic cells)
Fujita (morphogenesis of epithelial cells, epithelial-mesenchymal transition)
Lloyd (oncogenes, the control of cell growth, proliferation)
Pichaud (Link between epithelial cell polarity, growth and survival)

Immunology/infection . Two groups work in this area:

Cutler (endothelial recruitment of leukocytes)
Marsh (HIV infection, chemokine function)

Other . Two groups work in other areas with links to disease processes:

Cutler (von Willebrand's disease)
Pichaud (photoreceptor degeneration)

This page last modified 25 September, 2009 by LMCB Webmaster.

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