Cell Biology Annual Report 2010-11 (FY 2011) - Department of Cell ...

CBP Faculty Research Summaries
Cell Biology and Physiology
Annual Report
in the pathogenesis of tumor formation. The long-term goal is to understand the biochemistry of
these protein degradation pathways and to develop new intervention strategies based on an
understanding of proteolytic regulation to combat cancer and treat other human disease. To
achieve this, we plan to develop mutidisciplinary approaches, including biochemical and genetic
analyses as well as chemical genetic techniques. We will apply these methods using several
systems including functional proteomics, mammalian tissue culture cells and mouse model
system.
Simon C. Watkins, Ph.D.
Professor, Vice Chairman of Department
Director of Center for Biologic Imaging
The application of advanced imaging tools to the field of immunology is constantly revealing
new facets of cellular and molecular behavior within the immune system. The goals of my
research program are two-fold. To develop novel quantitative fluorescent based assays using
optical microscopy, and secondly to develop novel imaging platforms for use in health and
disease. Recent accomplishments have been the development of multiple new high speed high
resolution imaging platforms for multidimensional imaging of model systems. We are now
applying these tools to high speed imaging of the physiology and cell biology of the regulation
of vascular tone in the Zebra fish.
Christine Wu, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
During the past decade, biological mass spectrometry has expanded into a mainstream and
indispensable analytical field. My lab is focused on the development of proteomic methods and
technology for the characterization and quantification of proteins using mass spectrometry. In
particular, we are interested in developing optimized proteomic strategies compatible with the
analysis of integral membrane proteins. Recent experimental strategies utilize the use of global
comparative bottom-up proteomic profiling (LC-MS/MS) followed by targeted hypothesisdriven
strategies and the development of multiplexed SRM assays. These optimized workflows
are then applied towards the identification of protein biomarkers of disease and the
understanding of disease mechanisms (including breast cancer, liver disease, heart failure, and
neural disorders).
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Alexander Sorking. Colocalization and FRET between YFP-YEV-1B and CFP-Hrs in endosomes.