Microtubule-based transport is required for cell division, cell migration, and for transport of a number of cellular cargoes. A number of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases are caused by or associated with impaired microtubule-based transport. Cytoplasmic dynein 1 (dynein) is one of two molecular motor proteins that are responsible for microtubule-based transport. Dynein is a highly regulated motor and interacts with a number of adaptor proteins that modulate its function and activity. Mutations or copy number variations of dynein regulatory proteins also leads to neurodevelopmental diseases. Despite the importance to human health, mechanisms of how dynein is regulated are largely unknown. This proposal for an NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award seeks to understand how Lis1 and NudE/L, which are two regulators required for nearly every dynein function, modulate dynein activity. Impaired Lis1 and NudE/L function is implicated in a number of human diseases, including microcephaly, lissencephaly, schizophrenia, and autism.
In Aim1 during the mentored phase of the award, Dr. DeSantis will determine how Lis1 and NudE/L alter dynein function using a combination of structural biology and pure protein reconstitution experiments. Phosphorylation of dynein, Lis1, and NudE/L alter their activity but the mechanism of how this occurs in unknown. During the independent phase of the award, Dr. DeSantis will also determine how post-translational modifications influence dynein, Lis1, and NudE/L activity.
In Aim 2, Dr. DeSantis will identify novel dynein regulatory pathways using a combination of proteomics, cell biology, live cell imaging, and recombinant protein reconstitutions. Dr. DeSantis has already identified novel Lis1 and NudE/L interacting proteins and will elucidate their function and mechanism during the mentored and independent award phase. The results of this work will reveal mechanisms of dynein regulation, which has far reaching implications in human health and disease. Dr. DeSantis will receive training in cryo-electron microscopy in the K99 portion of the award. When combined with her background in biochemistry, cell biology, and live cell imaging, learning cryo-electron microscopy will empower Dr. DeSantis' research about mechanisms of motor protein regulation far beyond the duration of the K99/R00 award.
Dynein is a molecular motor protein whose function is to transport cellular cargo. A number of human developmental diseases are caused by impaired dynein function. This research will reveal how dynein works and how its ability to transport cargo is influenced by other proteins.
