Scott Coyle, PhD | PrincipAL investigator
chih-chia chang (EDEN) | Graduate Student - Biophysics
ZHEJING XU (MAGGIE) | Graduate Student - IPiB | B.S. ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY, B.S. CORNELL UNIVERSITY | HOMETOWN- HANGZHOU, CHINA
Cells are the fundamental unit of life, able to establish diverse cellular morphologies and functions through a conserved molecular toolkit integrating structure and sensing. However, our understanding of how these molecular machines are built and function is largely derived from metazoan systems, which represent only a small fraction of the Eukaryotic design space. Remarkably, unicellular ciliated protozoans also utilize this ancient structure-sensing toolbox to build spectacularly diverse cell morphologies and structures to execute specialized animal-like behaviors. Here, I investigate the novel microtubule-based feeding tentacles from a single-celled predatory ciliate, thus providing new insights into the design principles of microtubule-based architectures and molecular machines.
Interests – Hiking, photography, painting, gardening, dancing.
Nithesh Chandrasekharan | Graduate Student - IPiB | Hometown - Colombo, Sri Lanka
Centrin filament networks, found mainly in Microtubule Organizing Centers (MTOCs) and cilia, underlie a range of vital applications in eukaryotic cells, from short length-scale processes in centriole duplication, calcium homeostasis, and ciliary basal body function; to ultrafast contractility and motility in many morphologically complex unicellular protists and parasites. Because these self-assembled contractile structures are regulated by Ca2+ binding, we hypothesize calcium signaling dynamics likely contribute to the diversity of centrin structures and functions seen across different cells. Since many questions on the filamentation mechanism remains unanswered, my project focuses on developing a quantitative optical photo-uncaging microscopy toolbox to biochemically characterize centrin filamentation in vitro through mimicking calcium signaling dynamics under varying non-equilibrium conditions.
Interests - All kinds of sports (basketball, racquetball, volleyball, kayaking), train for triathlons, hang with friends and binge anime/K-dramas.
