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Craig A. Mandato
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Craig A. Mandato, PhD. (University of Waterloo) |
Welcome to the Mandato Lab. We are interested in cytokinesis or cell fission which is one of the most mysterious processes of the animal cell division cycle. Aberrant cytokinesis results in aneuploidy, which is the leading cause of spontaneous miscarriages in humans and is the hallmark of many human cancers. Many cancers of the reproductive system, including the highly malignant tumor choriocarcinoma are the result of errant cytokinesis. It has long been known that during animal cell cytokinesis a contractile ring composed of actin filaments and myosin-2 is responsible for generating the force necessary for this fission event, while microtubules are somehow responsible for directing the assembly of the contractile ring. Likewise the force needed for cellular locomotion is also generated by actin filaments and myosin-2 and somehow controlled by microtubules. However, little is known about how these two polymeric systems work together to assemble and establish localized, coordinated contractile structures. Given the significance of these cellular functions to both normal and pathological human physiology, understanding the mechanisms by which they are controlled is of clear biological and clinical importance. To examine these contractile structures we study the in vivo relationship of these two polymeric systems and characterize the molecular basis of their interactions during cellular wound healing, a process which entails rapid, microtubule-dependent assembly and closure of an actomyosin contractile ring which is ideal for experimental analysis.
Click here to see Models and Movies of Microtubules, Actin and Myosin-2 interacations
Click here to see current and past members of the Mandato Lab
Prospective graduate students and postdoctoral fellows should send Dr. Mandato a letter or e-mail of inquiry including areas of interest and relevant experience.