Cell City
Looking at a living cell under the microscope is analogous to observing a
city from above at rush hour. In both instances, one is immediately struck
by the tremendous movement in the environment below. At first glance,
this movement may appear random, but closer inspection reveals a series
of precisely orchestrated events. In the city, this traffic is guided by streets and sidewalks;
while in the cell, the cytoskeleton plays a key role in organizing the
distribution of components within the cell.
One important difference between roads in a city and the cytoskeleton is
that the latter is highly dynamic and constantly reorganizing itself.
Understanding the mechanisms of cytoskeletal dynamics and how they
are coordinated with other events in the cell cycle are key areas of research
in cell biology.
Our laboratory uses the Drosophila (fruit-fly) embryo to address
these issues. We have chosen this experimental system, because it is
amenable to a wide variety of approaches, including molecular genetics,
biochemistry, and cell biology. Recently developed technology, such as
fluorescently-labeled probes and GFP transgenics, have made possible live
cellular analysis of the Drosophila embryo. We apply
these approaches to address three fundamental areas of investigation: 1)
the role of the centrosome in mediating cytoskeletal rearrangements, 2)
the role of vesicle trafficking in furrow formation, and 3) the genetic
mechanisms by which cytoskeletal and nuclear dynamics are coordinated
throughout the cell cycle.
For more detailed information on research in the Sullivan laboratory, see the following links:
Sullivan Laboratory Research
Images and Movies
For information on educational projects sponsored by the Sullivan laboratory, see:
Undergraduates and California High School Students Asked to Join UCSC Biology Research Project
For Bill Sullivan's favorite scientific parable, see:
The Salvation of Doug
Last updated: July 15, 2002
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