Sarah Cosgriff
Education
2007-10 BSc in Biological Sciences with Cell Biology, University of Warwick
2010-2011 MSc in Systems Biology, University of Warwick
Research
Cell migration is a process involved in development, wound healing and metastasis in cancer. It requires four steps: actin-generated protrusion at the front, new focal adhesions interacting with the substrate, actin-myosin mediated contraction to pull the cell forward and the disassembly of focal adhesions at the rear edge. Microtubules also contribute to cell migration by regulating cell polarity and cell shape. There is evidence which suggests crosstalk between actin and microtubules during cell migration, however this requires more comprehension.
EB (End Binding) proteins are part of the plus end complex of microtubules and are known to regulate microtubule dynamics. This family of proteins may allow for the cross talk between actin and microtubules to take place. EB2 has not been as well studied in comparison to EB1 and EB3 and is the focus of my PhD project. I aim to find how EB2 regulates cell migration by studying focal adhesion turnover and the effects on actin dynamics. (see videos below)
GFP-actin RPE cell line (FRAP is used here) - studying actin polymerisation
Paxillin-GFP RPE cell line - studying focal adhesions
