The cell is the basic unit of life. Cell biology is an integrative discipline that employs a diverse array of methods and experimental systems to study cell structure and function. By focusing on the cell, CMDB students gain a detailed understanding of the tissues and organisms that cells compose.
During their training, students will tackle outstanding challenges in cell biology, including membrane trafficking, signaling pathways, the cell cycle, nuclear organization and division, host-microbe interactions, cell motility, and the formation and regulation of biomolecular condensates. They will work with diverse model systems, including mice, fruit flies, roundworms, budding yeast, zebrafish, cephalopods, and cultured cells. Their investigations will be empowered by advanced methodologies, including quantitative single-molecule microscopy, cryo-electron microscopy and tomography, biochemistry, in vitro experiments, and in silico modeling, combined with molecular and genetic analysis.
Cell Biology faculty
Our faculty members have a wide range of research specialties. Learn about their work and how you can get connected with our faculty.
Our research
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Pla2g12b drives expansion of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins
Vertebrates needed to expand the size of lipoprotein cargos and in the absence of Pla2g12b produce invertebrate like small lipoproteins that are incapable of producing atherogenic plaques. Pla2g12b primarily acts in the ER by binding both lipids, lipid transfer protein and lipoprotein to facilitate ER lipid transfer and lipoprotein particle expansion.
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Light modulates glucose and lipid homeostasis via thesympathetic nervous system
This study reveals that the lack of regular environmental light negatively influences glucose and lipid metabolism and that the sympathetic nervous system mediates such an effect.
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Skp1 proteins are structural components of the synaptonemal complex in C. elegans
By combining biochemistry, super-resolution microscopy, and genetics, this study identifies Skp1 proteins as the final missing component of the synaptonemal complex (SC) in C. elegans. This breakthrough has allowed us to reconstitute a complete soluble SC building block for the first time in any organism.
Student Profiles
Xiangning Chen
My project and lab I investigated how light affects glucose homeostasis through the sympathetic nervous system, using mouse models in Rejji Kuruvilla and Haiqing Zhao’s lab. This interdisciplinary project combines skills of both metabolism and neuroscience. I raised the mice…
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