Cellular Framework Lab

The size and shape of cells are regulated by filamentous protein polymers that make up the cellular framework known as the cytoskeleton. Our lab is interested in understanding how this framework is assembled and how a cell reorganises it in unfavourable conditions. We aim to achieve the above objective by developing detailed 3D models of cytoskeletal organisation. This will provide a platform to systematically examine the impact of mutations and environmental stress factors on the assembly and dynamics of the fundamental filament architecture, translating into potential long-term benefits of disease maintenance as well as sustainable agriculture. 

We use a combination of specialized techniques, including cryogenic electron microscopy, cryogenic electron tomography and fluorescence microscopy, to investigate the organisation of cytoskeletal filaments and associated proteins at different spatial scales.

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” - Jane Goodall, English primatologist and anthropologist