2013 Scientific Report

VARI | 2013
Research Interests
• To investigate the genetic and molecular basis of disease arising from defects in the cell infrastructure, which comprises
the microtubule and microfilament cytoskeletons.
• To gain a full understanding of how cells spatially and temporally organize the signaling networks that are required for cell
growth control and differentiation.
We place a basic research focus on the intersection of Rho and Wnt signaling to the nucleus and on the cytoskeletal remodeling
apparatus. We place a translational focus on targeted therapies that reinforce and/or repair the cell infrastructure.
Our disease focus is the blood cancers that arise from cells of the bone marrow. We use genetic models of these diseases to
test ideas generated by our molecular studies. These models will inform the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic
tools for treating these cancers.
Recent Publications
Touré, Fatouma, Günter Fritz, Qing Li, Vivek Rai, Gurdip Daffu, Yu Shan Zou, Rosa Rosario, Ravichandran Ramasamy,
Arthur S. Alberts, Shi Fang Yan, et al. 2012. Formin mDia1 mediates vascular remodeling via integration of oxidative and signal
transduction pathways. Circulation Research 110(10): 1279–1293.
Alberts, Art, and Michael Way. 2011. Actin motility: formin a SCAry tail. Current Biology 21(1): R27–R30.
He, Yuanzheng, Yong Xu, Chenghai Zhang, Xiang Gao, Karl J. Dykema, Katie R. Martin, Jiyuan Ke, Eric A. Hudson, Sok Kean
Khoo, James H. Resau, et al. 2011. Identification of a lysosomal pathway that modulates glucocorticoid signaling and the
inflammatory response. Science Signaling 4(180): ra44.
Thomas, S.G., S.D.J. Calaminus, L.M. Machesky, A.S. Alberts, and S.P. Watson. 2011. G-protein coupled and ITAM receptor
regulation of the formin FHOD1 through Rho kinase in platelets. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis 9(8): 1648–1651.
7