Department of Cell and Developmental Biology Archives
Microscopic spines connect worm neurons
Oct. 17, 2019—Worm neurons have microscopic “spines” — where nerve-to-nerve communication happens — that share features with mammalian neurons, supporting the use of worms to study spine genetics and biology.
Microvilli in motion
Sep. 19, 2019—Live cell imaging studies have revealed that microvilli — finger-like protrusions on the surface of epithelial cells — move and collide as they form the brush border.
The plus and minus of microtubules
Sep. 5, 2019—Understanding the dynamic regulation of cytoskeletal microtubules may suggest new ways to treat disorders ranging from Alzheimer's disease to cancer.
A “rheostat” for cancer signals
Aug. 27, 2019—Jason MacGurn and colleagues have characterized a “rheostat” that sets WNT pathway signaling in breast cancer cells.
Gannon named to new faculty development role
Aug. 15, 2019—Maureen Gannon, PhD, has been named to the newly created role of Associate Dean for Faculty Development for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Protein’s role in inflammation-related cancer studied
Aug. 15, 2019—Investigators are exploring the molecular mechanisms behind the association of chronic inflammation and colon cancer.
Pancreatic cancer clue
Aug. 12, 2019—Inflammation synergizes with a cell’s intrinsic genetic program to promote the development of pancreatic cancer.
New role for microtubules in diabetes
Jul. 29, 2019—Microtubules — part of the cell's cytoskeleton — regulate the secretion of insulin, suggesting that they may be a new target for treating diabetes.
Rasmussen named Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar
Jul. 18, 2019—Megan Rasmussen, a PhD student in Cell and Developmental Biology, has been selected as the 2019 Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar.
Cell-cell signals in developing heart
Jun. 10, 2019—Scott Baldwin and colleagues have discovered early signaling events during heart development, findings that could guide cell replacement therapies for heart disease.
Blueprint for rebuilding the heart
May. 9, 2019—Young-Jae Nam and colleagues are discovering how to express specific factors in connective tissue cells to turn them into heart muscle cells.
The dynamic basement
May. 9, 2019—Vanderbilt scientists led by Andrea Page-McCaw have discovered a new way to analyze repair of basement membranes — important structural and functional components of tissues.
