Check out Laura McCormick’s first author work now on BioRxiv, in collaboration with Nick Brown and Dave Kovar. We identified 2 ubiquitination sites on VASP (K240 and K286) and created purified, ubiquitinated VASP mimics. Using several in vitro biochemical assays, we showed multi-monoubiquitination (mmUb) reduces the ability of VASP to bind, bundle, and elongate actin filaments. We also electroporated our purified protein into MEFs. Compared to unmodified protein, the presence of multi-monoubiquitinated VASP altered cell spreading morphology and showed diminished localization to lamellipodia/filopodia. Collectively, our results show how multi-monoubiquitination negatively regulates VASP activity and influences actin dynamics in cells.
Category Archives: Lab Members
Welcome Anca and Sam!!!
Two new BBSP students are joining the lab and the Cell Biology and Physiology Curriculum. Welcome to Anca Frasineanu and Sam Ryken!
Elliot Defends his Honors Thesis
Senior Undergraduate, Elliot Evans defended his honors thesis in Neuroscience. Congratulations Elliot
Emerging Concepts of the Neuronal Cytoskeleton
The long awaited workshop funded by EMBO/IUBMB/IBRO/ISN on the Emerging Concepts of the Neuronal Cytoskeleton, that Stephanie has been organizing the past three years with Christophe Letterier, Carlos Wilson, and Christian Gonzalez Billault is finally here! Laura McCormick will be presenting a short talk and two posters, and Chris Ho is presenting a poster.
Chris Ho receives a CFAC award
Chris Ho received a CFAC award for $10,000 to fund an exciting project using light sheet microscopy to examine axon branching in the mouse cortex in vivo. Congratulations Chris!
CellBio22 Meeting
Stephanie, Laura, Sampada, Chris, and Kimberly all attended the CellBio22 Meeting by ASCB/EMBO, with posters, sessions, and so much great science. It was great to be in person again!
Triangle Cytoskeleton Meeting: Talks, Posters, Awards
Almost the whole lab attended the local ASCB Triangle Cytoskeleton meeting. Laura, Sampada, Chris, and Elliot presented posters, and Chris won a poster award. Stephanie talked about Laura McCormick’s beautiful thesis work
Laura McCormick Present at CSHL Molecular Mechanisms of Neuronal Connectivity
Laura presented her lovely thesis work at the CSHL Meeting Molecular Mechanisms of Neuronal Connectivity
Kimberly Lukasik is 2022 HHMI Gilliam Fellow
Kimberly was awarded a prestigious HHMI Gilliam Fellowship. Congratulations Kimberly!
Kimberly Lukasik aces her Qualifying Exam
Kimberly Lukasik, graduate student in the Cell Biology and Physiology Curriculum nailed her qualifying exam and is officially a PhD candidate. Congratulations Kimberly!