Project 466807

The cell is the basic building block of life. The human body is composed of trillions of cells. Inside the cell, there are several machines, or organelles, which serve specific and essential roles. Examples include the mitochondria which produce energy and the ribosomes which construct proteins. However, there are cellular functions that are not accomplished by organelles. Processes such as organelle transport, cell movement, maintaining cell shape, and regulating cell division are accomplished by the cytoskeleton, a highway and scaffolding for the cell. A major component of the cytoskeleton is microtubules. Microtubules are made of a protein called tubulin that come together to form hollow tubes. These hollow tubes are constantly being broken down and built to fulfill the needs of the cell for movement and division. The regulation of microtubules is accomplished by microtubule-associated proteins. There is a vast number of microtubule-associated proteins, many of which are not well understood. Misregulation of microtubule-associated proteins can lead to conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Understanding the functions of microtubule-associated proteins is therefore invaluable in protecting human health. My work will focus on examining the effects of microtubule-associated proteins on microtubules using powerful microscopes and advanced imaging techniques.