Molecular Cell Biology

Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Research summary
Mechanisms of reproductive cell regeneration and development

Key words
germline, reproduction, stem cells, regeneration, imaging, scRNAseq

Program affiliation
Cancer Biology
Immunology
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary

Key words

Program affiliation
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Computational and Systems Biology

Research summary
We seek to understand the cellular and biochemical underpinnings of mitochondrial dysfunction in human diseases. Our work integrates large-scale methodologies with traditional biochemistry and cell biology to investigate the modulation, adaptation, and basic metabolic function of mitochondria.

Key words
Mitochondria, Protein biochemistry, Genetic screening, Metabolism, Biosynthesis, Orphan protein function, Proteomics, Metabolomics, Kinases and phosphates, Metabolic disease, Systems biochemistry

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Research summary
We combine experimental measurements and computational modeling to understand how single and grouped respond to physical heterogeneities present in their extracellular microenvironments.

Key words
Mechanobiology; tumor invasion; cell migration; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; cell-matrix interaction; cytoskeleton;

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Immunology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
Pathobiology of liver disease from accumulation and proteotoxicity of misfolded proteins in α1-antitrypsin deficiency; role of autophagy in biology and treatment of disorders caused by misfolded proteins

Key words
α1-antitrypsin deficiency, protein secretion, protein degradation, autophagy, proteostasis, autophagy enhancer drugs

Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Immunology
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
Immune Evasion by Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Key words
tuberculosis, host-pathogen interactions, innate immunity, autophagy, lipid metabolism, phagosome maturation, antigen presentation, macrophage

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Neurosciences
Computational and Systems Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
The Cremins lab integrates molecular and computational biology to elucidate how the genome’s structure-function relationship influences synaptic plasticity and neurophysiology during memory encoding and consolidation and how this goes awry in intractable neurological disorders.

Key words
chromatin, neuroepigenetics, 3D genome, synaptic plasticity, Alzheimer's, repeat expansion disorders, chromatin-synapse communication, neural connectome, organoids

Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
Understanding the synaptic mechanisms by which emotional experiences lead to maladaptive plasticity and the impact of neurotherapeutic drugs on those maladaptive synaptic neuroadaptations

Key words
synaptic plasticity, Optogenetics, cell-type specific pharmacology, patch clamp electrophysiology, rapid-acting antidepressants, motivated behavior, drug addiction and affective disorders

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Computational and Systems Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Biomedical Informatics and Data Science

Research summary
Studies of the Molecular Pathways of Islet Hormone Secretion

Key words
Diabetes, Biophysics, Systems Biology, Computational Biology, Hyperspectral Imaging, Glucagon

Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Neurosciences
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
Molecular Mechanisms of Nervous System Longevity and Rejuvenation

Key words
epigenetics, nervous system, DNA repair, aging, rejuvenation