Education

Degree	Institution	Major
BSc	Moscow State University	Molecular Biology
PhD	Moscow State University	Biochemistry

Awards

Name of Award/Honor	Awarding Organization
Research Award for Eastern Europe	Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Academic degree Doctor of Sciences in Cell Biology, Supreme Attestation Committe of the Russia(formal requirement for professorship in Russia)

Name & Description	Category	Role	Type	Scope	Start Year	End Year
Sigma Delta Epsilon-Graduate Women in Science Program.	Advisory Committee	Ad Hoc Reviewer	External	National	2010
Programme BLANC, Agence Nationale De La Recherche (France).	Advisory Committee	Ad Hoc Reviewer	External	International	2010
National Institute of Health (Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Structure and Dynamics Scientific Review Group).	Study Section	Member	External	National	2010
Curriculum Committee; Medical Students Course “Human Biology”.	Education Committee	Member	UConn Health	University	2008
Wellcome Trust (UK).	Advisory Committee	Ad Hoc Reviewer	External	International	2008
National Institutes of Health (Cell Structure and Function Scientific Review Group).	Study Section	Member	External	National	2007
The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development.	Advisory Committee	Ad Hoc Reviewer	External	International	2007
UK Cancer Research Foundation.	Editorial Board	Ad Hoc Reviewer	External	National	2007	2008
Human Frontiers Science Program.	Editorial Board	Ad Hoc Reviewer	External	National	2007
National Science Foundation (Cellular Organization).	Education Committee	Ad Hoc Reviewer	External	National	2006	2010
Faculty of 1000	Professional/Scientific Organization	Contributor	External	National	2003
National Science Foundation (Cellular Organization).	Advisory Committee	Panel member	External	National	2003	2006
Faculty Search Committee, CCAM	Advisory Committee	Member	UConn Health	University	2002
Graduate School Admission Committee	Advisory Committee	Member	UConn Health	University	2002	2005
Curriculum Committee; Graduate Course “Advanced Microscopy Techniques”	Education Committee	Member	UConn Health	University	2002
Dental Council.	Education Committee	At-Large Representative	UConn Health	University	2001	2004
Graduate School Cell Biology Curriculum Review Committee.	Education Committee	Committee Member	UConn Health	University	1999
Biophysical Society	Professional/Scientific Organization	Member	External	National	1997
National Science Foundation (Cellular Organization).	Editorial Board	Ad Hoc Reviewer	External	National	1997	2002
American Society for Cell Biology	Professional/Scientific Organization	Member	External	National	1993

Research in this laboratory is focused on molecular mechanisms of intracellular transport and organization of microtubule cytoskeleton. The model system that is being used is melanophores, pigment cells of lower vertebrates. The only function of these large cells is synchronous transport of thousands of membrane-bounded organelles, pigment granules, which rapidly move to the cell center to form a tight aggregate or redisperse uniformly throughout the cytoplasm. During aggregation, pigment granules move along microtubules by means of cytoplasmic dynein. Pigment dispersion involves initial rapid microtubule-dependent transport to the periphery by Kinesin II and subsequent slow diffusion-like movement along the randomly arranged actin filaments. Transport is regulated by Protein Kinase A (PKA) signaling cascade. Thus, melanophores provide a unique model system for the studies of the role of cytoskeleton in intracellular transport, mechanisms of switching between the two major transport systems, and regulation of activity of motor molecules by signal transduction mechanisms.

Two recent findings define the directions of current research. First, we have shown that in microsurgically produced cytoplasmic fragments of melanophores lacking the centrosome the radial array of microtubules rapidly forms and becomes positioned to the center. Thus, membrane organelles that are normally dragged by motors to the centrosome region may themselves play an active role in organization and maintenance of radial microtubules. Digital fluorescence microscopy, photobleaching , photoactivation and microinjection of motor-specific probes are being used to test the mechanisms of self-organization and self-centering of the radial microtubule array in the fragments. Second, we have demonstrated that during dispersion the pigment granules that initially move along microtubules switch tracks and continue motion along randomly arranged actin filaments. Thus, each pigment granule bears a member of each of the families of motor molecules: cytoplasmic dynein and a kinesin-like motors (specific for microtubules) and a myosin motor (specific for actin filaments). A combination of biochemical and molecular approaches are being used to test the hypothesis that the motor molecules interact and that regulation is achieved through phosphorylation of common subunits.

Not accepting lab rotation students at this time

Lab Rotation Projects
1. Identification of Protein Kinase A adapter proteins (AKAPs). Our recent work indicates that PKA is bound to pigment granules and that this binding is mediated by adapter proteins know as AKAPs. A combination of biochemical, molecular, and mass-spectrometry approaches will be used to identify AKAPs that tie PKA to pigment granule surface and determine the role of PKA compartmentalization in pigment transport.

2. Mechanism of regulation of Kinesin II. Our preliminary data strongly suggest that the activity of kinesin II during dispersion is stimulated by PKA-dependent phosphrylation. Mass-spectrometry, site-directed mutagenesis, and microscopy approaches will be used to identify phosphorylation sites and determine the importance of Kinesin II regulation for pigment dispersion.

3. The role of actin dynamics in pigment dispersion. During dispersion, pigment granules move along the actin filaments by means of myosin Va. Based on our data we hypothesize that this actin-dependent transport involves continuous growth of actin filaments. Live imaging approaches will be used to test this hypothesis and determine whether actin assembly is coupled to myosin V activity.

Journal Articles

Abstracts

Conference Papers

Short Surveys

Title or Abstract	Type	Sponsor/Event	Date/Year	Location
Regulation of intracellular transport in melanophores	Talk	Physiology Course	2010	Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole
Regulation of intracellular transport in melanophores	Talk	Physiology Course	2010	Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole
Regulation of molecular motors in melanophores Cargo transport by single molecular motors	Talk	53d Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society Symposium	2009	Boston, MA
Intracellular transport in black and white	Talk	NHLBI Seminar	2009	Washington, D.C.
Intracellular transport in black and white	Talk	Center for Non-linear Dynamics Seminar	2009	University of Austin, TX.
Intracellular transport in black and white	Talk	Seminar	2007	Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York.
Intracellular transport in black and white	Talk	Musculoskeletal Institute Seminar	2007	University of Pennsylvania.
Computational modeling of pigment transport in melanophores	Talk	44th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology	2004	Washington, D.C.
Motile and Contractile Systems Centrosome positioning is maintained by opposing forces generated by actomyosin system and cytoplasmic dynein	Talk	Gordon Research Conference	2003
Regulation and coordination of molecular motors in melanophores	Talk	Marine Biological Laboratory	2003	Woods Hole, MA
Microtubule arrays, Cytomechanical modules	Talk	Friday Harbor Laboratories	2003
Finding the center of a fragment	Talk	41st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology	2000	Washington, D.C.
Coordination of microtubule- and actin-dependent transport in melanophores	Talk	Seminar in the University of Linkoping	1999	Sweden
Self-organization of the radial microtubule array	Talk	Seminar in the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology	1999	Lausanne (Switzerland)
Organization of Cytoplasm by Molecular Motors	Talk	Seminar in the Queens College, New York	1998	Queens College, New York
Organization of Cytoplasm by Molecular Motors	Talk	Seminar in the Dept. of Biology	1998	Louisiana State University
Organization of Cytoplasm by Molecular Motors	Talk	Seminar in the Northwestern University Medical School	1998	Northwestern University Medical School
“Motile and Contractile Systems” “Centrosomal control of microtubule dynamics”.	Talk	Gordon Research Conference	1998
Self-Centering Activity of Cytoplasm	Talk	Seminar in the Dept. of Anatomy	1996	Indiana University Medical School
Microtubule dynamics in fish melanophores	Talk	32nd Annual Meeting of the American Society For Cell Biology	1991	Boston
Mechanisms of motion of pigment granules in melanophores	Talk	Seminar in the Dept. of Physicians and Surgeons	1990	Columbia University