CDB Seminar - Prof Daniel A. Starr, UC Davis

Talk abstract: Nuclear positioning is central to many processes including pronuclear migration, muscle and neuronal differentiation, and cellular migration. My lab studies the mechanisms of how nuclei interact with the cytoskeleton to migrate to and anchor at specific subcellular locations as a part of development and disease. We primarily focus on LINC complexes, which are made of SUN proteins at the inner nuclear membrane and KASH proteins in the outer nuclear membrane. LINC complexes bridge the nuclear envelope to link the nucleoskeleton to the cytoskeleton. In addition, we study LINC-independent mechanisms for nuclear anchorage and for nuclear migrations through constricted spaces in the context of a developing animal. Most recently, we have initiated new projects to measure the biophysical properties of the cytoplasm in vivo and found that LINC complexes are necessary to maintain macromolecular crowding of the cytoplasm.

Suggested references:

H. Hao, S. Kalra, L. E. Jameson, L. A. Guerrero, N. E. Cain, J. Bolivar and D. A. Starr. 2021. The Nesprin-1/-2 ortholog ANC-1 regulates organelle positioning in C. elegans independently from its KASH or actin-binding domains. eLife. 1-30 PMCID: PMC8139857.

D. A. Starr. 2019. A network of nuclear envelope proteins and cytoskeletal force generators mediates movements of and within nuclei throughout C. elegans development. An Invited Review in Experimental Biology and Medicine. 244: 1323-1332. PMCID: PMC6880151

Zoom link: https://ucl.zoom.us/j/96010089049

Host: Professor Barbara Conradt