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Profile

Dorothy Lerit Ph.D.

  • Department of Cell Biology
    Associate Professor
  • dlerit@emory.edu
  • Lerit Lab Website
Head shot of Dorothy Lerit

Overview

Our research interests include understanding how centrosome activity is regulated in space and time, how individual centrosomes are differentially regulated within single cells, and how centrosome regulation contributes to cell and animal viability.

Academic Appointment

  • Associate Professor, Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine

Education

Degrees

  • Ph.D., Molecular Biology from Princeton University
  • B.S., Biology from University of Massachusetts

Research

Focus

  • Centrosomes in development and disease

    Defects in centrosome regulation are associated with developmental disorders and disease, such as microcephaly, sterility, ciliopathy, and cancer. We take an interdisciplinary approach to investigate mechanisms of centrosome regulation within pluripotent cells (e.g., stem cells and embryos) to model the etiology of centrosome-associated pathophysiologies.

Publications

  • The PCM scaffold enables RNA localization to centrosomes.
    Mol Biol Cell Volume: 36 Page(s): ar75
    06/01/2025 Authors: Fang J; Tian W; Quintanilla MA; Beach JR; Lerit DA
  • Arsenic impairs Drosophila neural stem cell mitotic progression and sleep behavior in a tauopathy model.
    G3 (Bethesda) Volume: 15
    05/08/2025 Authors: Adebambo TH; Medina-Flores F; Zhang S; Lerit DA
  • Visualization of the Cytoskeleton in Fixed Drosophila Embryos.
    Curr Protoc Volume: 5 Page(s): e70145
    05/01/2025 Authors: Fang J; Brockett JS; Tian W; Hua Y; Gavis ER; Lerit DA
  • Centrocortin potentiates co-translational localization of its mRNA to the centrosome via dynein.
    bioRxiv
    08/09/2024 Authors: Zein-Sabatto H; Brockett JS; Jin L; Husbands CA; Lee J; Fang J; Buehler J; Bullock SL; Lerit DA
  • Arsenic impairs Drosophila neural stem cell mitotic progression and sleep behavior in a tauopathy model.

    08/07/2024 Authors: Adebambo TH; Flores MFM; Zhang SL; Lerit DA
  • A missense SNP in the tumor suppressor SETD2 reduces H3K36me3 and mitotic spindle integrity in Drosophila.
    Genetics Volume: 226
    04/03/2024 Authors: Brockett JS; Manalo T; Zein-Sabatto H; Lee J; Fang J; Chu P; Feng H; Patil D; Davidson P; Ogan K
  • The PCM scaffold enables RNA localization to centrosomes.
    bioRxiv
    01/14/2024 Authors: Fang J; Tian W; Quintanilla MA; Beach JR; Lerit DA
  • Colorimetric Synchronization of Drosophila Larvae.
    Curr Protoc Volume: 3 Page(s): e924
    10/01/2023 Authors: Hailstock T; Terry D; Wardwell-Ozgo J; Robinson BV; Moberg KH; Lerit DA
  • Analysis of factors required for Centrocortin mRNA localization to centrosomes in Drosophila embryos
    Volume: 34 Page(s): 505 - 505
    02/01/2023 Authors: Husbands C; Zein-Sabatto H; Lerit DA
  • Identifying mechanisms underlying Orb2-dependent regulation of neural stem cell centrosome asymmetry
    Volume: 34 Page(s): 645 - 646
    02/01/2023 Authors: Buehler J; Lerit DA
  • Characterization of Orb2-dependent microcephaly in Drosophila
    Volume: 34 Page(s): 112 - 112
    02/01/2023 Authors: Hailstock T; Lerit DA
  • Localization of mRNAs to Centrosomes Requires the Pericentriolar Material Scaffold
    Volume: 34 Page(s): 177 - 177
    02/01/2023 Authors: Tian W; Fang J; Lerit DA
  • Understanding how and why RNAs localize to centrosomes
    Volume: 34 Page(s): 286 - 287
    02/01/2023 Authors: Fang J; Zein-Sabatto H; Ryder PV; Lerit DA
  • Neurologic responses of the developing nervous system to arsenic exposure
    Volume: 34 Page(s): 648 - 648
    02/01/2023 Authors: Adebambo TH; Bharadwaj AR; Lerit DA
  • Reflections on mentorship as an early career researcher.
    Mol Biol Cell Volume: 33 Page(s): ae3
    12/01/2022 Authors: Lerit DA
  • Orb-dependent polyadenylation contributes to PLP expression and centrosome scaffold assembly.
    Development Volume: 149
    07/01/2022 Authors: Fang J; Lerit DA
  • Signed, sealed, and delivered: RNA localization and translation at centrosomes.
    Mol Biol Cell Volume: 33
    05/01/2022 Authors: Lerit DA
  • Drosophila centrocortin is dispensable for centriole duplication but contributes to centrosome separation.
    G3 (Bethesda) Volume: 12
    02/04/2022 Authors: Mehta DS; Zein-Sabatto H; Ryder PV; Lee J; Lerit DA
  • Antagonism between germ cell-less and Torso receptor regulates transcriptional quiescence underlying germline/soma distinction.
    Elife Volume: 10
    01/18/2021 Authors: Colonnetta MM; Lym LR; Wilkins L; Kappes G; Castro EA; Ryder PV; Schedl P; Lerit DA; Deshpande G
  • The Identification and Functional Analysis of mRNA Localizing to Centrosomes.
    Front Cell Dev Biol Volume: 9 Page(s): 782802
    01/01/2021 Authors: Zein-Sabatto H; Lerit DA
  • centrocortin RNA localization to centrosomes is regulated by FMRP and facilitates error-free mitosis.
    J Cell Biol Volume: 219
    12/07/2020 Authors: Ryder PV; Fang J; Lerit DA
  • Understanding microcephaly through the study of centrosome regulation in Drosophila neural stem cells.
    Biochem Soc Trans Volume: 48 Page(s): 2101 - 2115
    10/30/2020 Authors: Robinson BV; Faundez V; Lerit DA
  • Quantitative analysis of subcellular distributions with an open-source, object-based tool.
    Biol Open Volume: 9
    10/19/2020 Authors: Ryder PV; Lerit DA
  • Drosophila pericentrin-like protein promotes the formation of primordial germ cells.
    Genesis Volume: 58 Page(s): e23347
    03/01/2020 Authors: Fang J; Lerit DA
  • Drosophila Heterochromatin Stabilization Requires the Zinc-Finger Protein Small Ovary.
    Genetics Volume: 213 Page(s): 877 - 895
    11/01/2019 Authors: Benner L; Castro EA; Whitworth C; Venken KJT; Yang H; Fang J; Oliver B; Cook KR; Lerit DA
  • PLP Promotes Cytoskeletal Organization to Induce Germ Cell Formation.
    Volume: 29
    12/15/2018 Authors: Fang J; Lerit DA
  • Centrosomes coordinate the specification of germ cells.
    Volume: 29
    12/15/2018 Authors: Fang J; Lym LR; Lerit DA
  • Dynamic post-transcriptional regulation of centrosome-associated RNA.
    Volume: 29 Page(s): 165 - 166
    12/15/2018 Authors: Ryder PV; Lerit DA
  • RNA localization regulates diverse and dynamic cellular processes.
    Traffic Volume: 19 Page(s): 496 - 502
    07/01/2018 Authors: Ryder PV; Lerit DA
  • Germ Cell-less Promotes Centrosome Segregation to Induce Germ Cell Formation.
    Cell Rep Volume: 18 Page(s): 831 - 839
    01/24/2017 Authors: Lerit DA; Shebelut CW; Lawlor KJ; Rusan NM; Gavis ER; Schedl P; Deshpande G
  • mRNA is a dynamic component of the pericentriolar material in Drosophila early embryos.
    Volume: 28
    01/01/2017 Authors: Ryder PV; Lerit DA
  • Regulation of cell division by the intrinsic and extrinsic activities of small ovaries is required for germline development.
    Volume: 28
    01/01/2017 Authors: Benner L; Castro EA; Whitworth C; Cook KR; Oliver B; Lerit DA
  • The small ovary (sov) gene is essential for centrosome function and cell cycle progression during embryogenesis.
    Volume: 28
    01/01/2017 Authors: Castro EA; Lerit DA
  • Spatial control of centrosomes is required for germline development
    Volume: 27
    01/01/2016 Authors: Shebelut CW; Rusan NM; Gavis ER; Deshpande G; Schedl P; Lerit DA
  • Centrosomes are multifunctional regulators of genome stability.
    Chromosome Res Volume: 24 Page(s): 5 - 17
    01/01/2016 Authors: Lerit DA; Poulton JS
  • Interphase centrosome organization by the PLP-Cnn scaffold is required for centrosome function.
    J Cell Biol Volume: 210 Page(s): 79 - 97
    07/06/2015 Authors: Lerit DA; Jordan HA; Poulton JS; Fagerstrom CJ; Galletta BJ; Peifer M; Rusan NM
  • Proper organization of the interphase centrosome structure through the coordinated activities of Centrosomin and Pericentrin-like protein is essential for viability
    Volume: 26
    01/01/2015 Authors: Lerit DA; Jordan HA; Poulton JS; Fagerstrom CJ; Brian GJ; Peifer M; Rusan NM
  • PLP forms novel centriole satellites and is critical for embryonic development.
    Volume: 25
    12/01/2014 Authors: Lerit DA; Poulton JS; Jordan HA; Peifer M; Rusan NM
  • Drosophila pericentrin requires interaction with calmodulin for its function at centrosomes and neuronal basal bodies but not at sperm basal bodies.
    Mol Biol Cell Volume: 25 Page(s): 2682 - 2694
    09/15/2014 Authors: Galletta BJ; Guillen RX; Fagerstrom CJ; Brownlee CW; Lerit DA; Megraw TL; Rogers GC; Rusan NM
  • Live imaging of Drosophila larval neuroblasts.
    J Vis Exp
    07/07/2014 Authors: Lerit DA; Plevock KM; Rusan NM
  • PLP inhibits the activity of interphase centrosomes to ensure their proper segregation in stem cells.
    J Cell Biol Volume: 202 Page(s): 1013 - 1022
    09/30/2013 Authors: Lerit DA; Rusan NM
  • Organelle asymmetry for proper fitness, function, and fate.
    Chromosome Res Volume: 21 Page(s): 271 - 286
    05/01/2013 Authors: Lerit DA; Smyth JT; Rusan NM
  • Novel Pericentrin structures orchestrate the PCM in rapidly dividing embryos
    Volume: 24
    01/01/2013 Authors: Lerit DA; Poulton JS; Peifer M; Rusan NM
  • Tubulin nucleotide status controls Sas-4-dependent pericentriolar material recruitment.
    Nat Cell Biol Volume: 14 Page(s): 865 - 873
    08/01/2012 Authors: Gopalakrishnan J; Chim Y-CF; Ha A; Basiri ML; Lerit DA; Rusan NM; Avidor-Reiss T
  • Asymmetry in centrosome activity is generated by blocking centrosome maturation.
    Volume: 23
    01/01/2012 Authors: Lerit DA; Rusan NM
  • Transport of germ plasm on astral microtubules directs germ cell development in Drosophila.
    Curr Biol Volume: 21 Page(s): 439 - 448
    03/22/2011 Authors: Lerit DA; Gavis ER
  • Aubergine is a component of a nanos mRNA localization complex.
    Dev Biol Volume: 349 Page(s): 46 - 52
    01/01/2011 Authors: Becalska AN; Kim YR; Belletier NG; Lerit DA; Sinsimer KS; Gavis ER
  • Imaging transforming growth factor-beta signaling dynamics and therapeutic response in breast cancer bone metastasis.
    Nat Med Volume: 15 Page(s): 960 - 966
    08/01/2009 Authors: Korpal M; Yan J; Lu X; Xu S; Lerit DA; Kang Y
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