Simon Bullock
Molecular cell biology of cytoskeletal transport
Our overarching goal is to understand how the interior of cells is organised in space and time, and how this contributes to cellular function. We study this problem in the context of microtubule-based transport, which uses molecular motors to deliver organelles, vesicles and macromolecules to different locations within the cytoplasm. This research is timely as there is growing evidence that defective motor function can cause neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, several pathogenic viruses hijack microtubule motors to establish infection.
We are studying transport mechanisms using two tractable model systems – subcellular mRNA localisation and membrane trafficking – both of which play a critical role in compartmentalising cellular activities. We work across scales to address our questions, combining single-molecule imaging of reconstituted transport complexes with identification of new transport regulators and genetics in human cells and Drosophila.
The questions we are interested in include:
- How do molecular motors recognise specific types of cargo and sort them to different parts of the cell?
- How is mRNA transport coordinated with other post-transcriptional events such as translation?
- How is the action of multiple motor types bound to a single cargo orchestrated?
- How is trafficking regulated by stress, and how does this facilitate adaptation?
- How does microtubule structure and organisation contribute to cargo sorting?