MECHANISMS OF CONTRACTILE NETWORK ASSEMBLY

Project Summary/Abstract A fundamental question in cell physiology is how appropriate levels of cell contractility are generated to drive cell and tissue morphogenesis and mechanical homeostasis. We know cells contractile events to enable dynamic movements. We do not know how they generate and tune contractility in the right place at the right time. Myosin 2 filaments are the dominant force- generating motor proteins in all cells and tissues. This proposal uses an array of molecular, cellular, and imaging techniques to understand myosin 2 modulation and function in living mammalian cells. We anticipate the completion of this work will answer critical questions and yield important new avenues to pursue.