Overview

We study cell regulation, particularly that involving members of the Arf superfamily of GTPases and the guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) that regulate them. The Arf superfamily is made up of 30 different genes/proteins in mammals; including 6 ARFs, 22 ARLs, and 2 SARs. There are currently 16 GEFs and 27 GAPs known to act on the six ARFs, with almost none identified that act on any of the 22 ARLs. The exception is the family of ELMOD proteins (3 in mammals, ELMOD1-3) that act on ARFs and several (but not all) ARLs. Our current foci include characterization of the roles of ELMODs and understudied ARLs in the cell cycle, cytokinesis, ciliogenesis, microtubule organization, actin dynamics, and cell transformation. We use CRISPR/Cas9 to edit the genome of (predominantly) immortalized mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) as model system to study the ancient and conserved functions of these cell regulators. In addition, we collaborate with several other labs around the world to facilitate the eventual knockout and analysis of all of the ~70 GTPases/GEFs/GAPs in these families, in a collaboration that has been title, "The ARF Consortium".

Academic Appointment

• Professor of Biochemistry, Emory University

Education

Research