Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

Background

Research Description

The Hananford lab uses live cell microscopy, biochemistry and Drosophila genetics to investigate the role and regulation of centrosomes in diverse cell types. 

The centrosome is a crucial, membraneless organelle that orchestrates the assembly and organization of microtubules. During cell division, the centrosome forms the spindle apparatus that segregates chromosomes into daughter cells. Additionally, the centrosome participates in cellular organization and polarity by anchoring microtubules and directing their growth. Dysregulation of these processes has been linked to disease including cancer, microcephaly, ciliopathy and male sterility. 

The goal of our research is to understand (1) the molecular mechanisms of how centrosomes are positioned within cells (2) how their microtubule nucleating activity is modulated through development and the cell cycle  (3) how dysregulation of these processes contributes to human disease. 

Lab website:  www.hannafordlab.com

Faculty Highlighted Publications

Matthew R. Hannaford, Nasser M. Rusan; Positioning centrioles and centrosomes. J Cell Biol 1 April 2024; 223 (4): e202311140. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202311140

John M. Ryniawec, Matthew R. Hannaford, Melanie E. Zebrat, Carey J. Fagerstrom, Brian J. Galletta, Sophie E. Aguirre, Bethany A. Guice, Spencer M. Dean, Nasser M. Rusan, Gregory C. Rogers; Cep104 is a component of the centriole distal tip complex that regulates centriole growth and contributes to Drosophila spermiogenesis. Current Biology 9 October 2023; 33(19):4202-4216.e9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.075 

 
Matthew R. Hannaford, Rong Liu, Neil Billington, Zachary T. Swider, Brian J. Galletta, Carey J. Fagerstrom, Christian Combs, James R. Sellers, Nasser M. Rusan; Pericentrin interacts with Kinesin-1 to drive centriole motility. J Cell Biol 5 September 2022; 221 (9): e202112097. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202112097

Matthew Hannaford, Nicolas Loyer, Francesca Tonelli, Martin Zoltner, Jens Januschke; A chemical-genetics approach to study the role of atypical Protein Kinase C in Drosophila. Development 15 January 2019; 146 (2): dev170589. doi: https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.170589

Matthew R. Hannaford, Anne Ramat, Nicolas Loyer, Jens Januschke; aPKC-mediated displacement and actomyosin-mediated retention polarize Miranda in Drosophila neuroblasts. eLife 24 January 2018 7:e29939. doi: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.29939

Link to all publications: https://www.hannafordlab.com/publications