The goal of the Tyska laboratory is to understand the biological roles of myosins; molecular machines that transduce energy derived from ATP hydrolysis into force and motion directed along actin filaments. Humans express ~40 different myosin genes and though many of these remain largely uncharacterized, numerous studies suggest that various myosins, in conjunction with the actin cytoskeleton, play critical roles in basic developmental processes such as differentiation (e.g. cell polarity establishment/maintenance) and morphogenesis.  The laboratory's studies are currently focusing on myosin-1a, a major component of the enterocyte brush border that may serve to maintain polarity by tethering apical components in the brush border domain. The Tyska laboratory is applying a novel combination of cell biological and biophysical approaches in an effort to develop our understanding of the molecular mechanisms which govern myosin-1a function.

For more information about Dr. Tyska visit his Vanderbilt Faculty Page or his Lab Website  

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Human deafness mutation E385D disrupts the mechanochemical coupling and subcellular targeting of myosin-1a.
2008 Biophysical Journal 94: L5-7

PREVIOUS PUBLICATIONS