New insights into microtubule dynamics and function in growth cones
Microtubules are cytoskeletal elements with important functions in cell division, organelle motility and cell movements. Dynamic microtubules are essential for guidance of the growth cone, the growing the tip of neuronal processes. However, the details of microtubule rearrangements and functions in growth cones have remained unclear. Studying the large growth cones of Aplysia californica neurons with Fluorescent Speckle Microscopy (FSM), the Suter lab has recently provided important new insights into both the mechanisms of microtubule rearrangements and their role in turnover of a key signaling molecule, Src tyrosine kinase. Live cell imaging of microtubule and actin dynamics during adhesion-mediated growth cone guidance revealed that microtubule reorganization is largely regulated by coupling to the actin cytoskeleton. Furthermore, microtubules mediate trafficking of Src in growth cones by supporting the retrograde retrieval of Src that has been endocytosed from the plasma membrane; thus, microtubules play a role in regulating the levels of active Src in the growth cone, which is important for growth cone turning. These studies have recently been published both as cover articles in Dev. Neurobiol., 68(12):1363-1377 by Lee and Suter and Mol. Biol. Cell. 19 (11):4611-27 by Wu et al.
Bindley Bioscience Center adds $20 million in life sciences research
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University's Bindley Bioscience Center helped generate $20 million in research for Indiana and nearly doubled its portfolio to 35 active research projects, center officials announced Monday (Nov. 10). The Purdue research center, which is located in a $15 million facility in Discovery Park, has boosted its industrial partnerships to 17 companies in the life sciences, including 11 based in Indiana, an annual report from the center shows.
Thirty-five faculty researchers now lead projects in alternative energy, cancer diagnosis, drug delivery and bionanotechnology. More than 100 undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students and 20 research scientists and visiting scientists assist in collaborations with Purdue's colleges of Science, Engineering, Pharmacy, Agriculture, Technology and the School of Veterinary Medicine.
"Bindley is becoming the foundation for Purdue's large-scale interdisciplinary research efforts to help Indiana and the Midwest grow its bio- and life-sciences industries, improve health and increase the number of physicians trained in Indiana," said Bindley director Richard Kuhn.
"Bindley also has expanded Purdue's life sciences research pipeline to connect more effectively, strategically and even globally with leading life science researchers at Indiana University and the Indiana University School of Medicine and other regional and national research institutions."
Bindley has research partnerships with Eli Lilly & Co., Amgen, Intelimmune LLC, Techshot Inc., LECO Corp., Monarch LifeSciences, Neoclone, iCyt Visionary Bioscience Inc. and Cyntellect Inc. Researchers also are working with Purdue Research Park companies Quadraspec Inc., Seyet Inc. and Kylin Therapeutics LLC.
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Purdue Cancer Center establishes breast cancer research group
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University is marking breast cancer awareness month in October with the creation of a collaborative research group to focus on ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease. The Purdue Cancer Center brought together 10 of the top cancer researchers from the fields of biological science, medicinal chemistry, basic medical sciences and biomedical engineering to establish the group, said Timothy Ratliff, director of the Purdue Cancer Center.
"We need to approach this problem from multiple angles and incorporate different scientific fields if we are to be successful in eliminating this devastating form of cancer," he said. "Breast cancer is expected to be the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women this year, and we must work together to develop life-saving advances."
According to the National Cancer Institute, 182,460 new cases in women and 1,990 new cases in men are expected this year, and 40,480 deaths from the disease are expected. MORE
The group's mission is to increase knowledge to help prevent breast cancer, develop better early-detection techniques and improve treatment methods. A current member of the breast cancer research group from Biological Sciences is Ignacio Camarillo, an assistant professor, who is working on defining the role of early onset obesity in breast cancer.