Date:
Monday 24th September 2001 - 14:40 to 15:40
Venue:
INI Seminar Room 1
Session Title:
Vertical Integration in Biology: From Molecules to Organisms
Abstract:
The cytoskeleton of eucaryotic cells represents an interconnected
network of actin filaments, microtubulus and intemediate filaments,
which extends over the entire cell. It has long been known that this
network regulates cell motility, cell shape, gene expression and a
number of other cell functions. Recently it has been recognized that
mechanical forces may regulate intracellular signaling pathways and it
has been suggested this may involve the cytoskeleton. On one hand the
cytoskeleton provides docking sites for many signaling molecules, on
the other hand, due to its interconnected character is capable to
transmit mechanical signals between distinct parts of the cell. This
dual role makes the cytoskeleton an ideal mechano-chemical conversion
apparatus. The specific way, how the cytoskeleton may participate in
intracellular signaling is not known. I will first show, using
information from protein data basis and interaction networks that
indeed there is a strong correlation between signaling molecules and
cytoskeleton associated molecules. I will then present models for the
specific mechanisms of the cytoskeleton's involvement in intracellular
signal transduction.