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The Department of Chemical and Systems Biology Presents: Cutting Lecture Series, Julie Theriot, PhD

The Department of Chemical and Systems Biology Presents: Cutting Lecture Series, Julie Theriot, PhD

The Department of Chemical and Systems Biology Presents

Julie Theriot, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology, University of Washington, and
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Friday, April 14, 2023

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (Pacific Time)

Munzer Auditorium

Talk Title: “ Shocking secrets of cell migration”

Abstract: Many animal cell types are able to crawl in a specific direction based on the spatial distribution of environmental cues, such as growth factors or soluble chemoattractants. Cells of the immune system and epithelial cells are also able to respond directly to the presence and orientation of electric fields, a process known as “galvanotaxis” or “electrotaxis”. Sensing and responding to electric fields is particularly useful in the context of wound healing. I will discuss the molecular mechanisms and biological consequences of galvanotaxis.

Reading Material:

  1. Electrophoresis of cellular membrane components creates the directional cue guiding keratocyte galvanotaxis.
    Allen GM, Mogilner A, Theriot JA. Curr Biol. 2013 Apr 8;23(7):560-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.02.047. Epub 2013 Mar 28.
    PMID: 23541731 https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(13)00238-8
  2. Osmolarity-independent electrical cues guide rapid response to injury in zebrafish epidermis.
    Kennard AS, Theriot JA. Elife. 2020 Nov 23;9:e62386. doi: 10.7554/eLife.62386.
    PMID: 33225997 https://elifesciences.org/articles/62386