Talk: “Dissecting the Regulation of the Centrosome/cilium Complex in Cells and Disease,” Dr. Elif Nur Fırat Karalar, Koç University, UNAM Conference Room, 3:40PM October 21 (EN)

Dear Colleagues and Students,

You are cordially invited to UNAM Nanocolloquium seminars focusing on advancements in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The seminars bring us the most recent developments in these exciting fields.

The first talk of this spring term will be presented by Asst. Prof. Elif Nur Fırat Karalar*
Title: Dissecting The Regulation Of The Centrosome/cilium Complex In Cells and Disease
Date: October 21, 2016 (Friday)
Time: 15:40
Place: UNAM Conference Room

ABSTRACT – Centrosomes are main microtubule-organizing centers of animal cells. They create various microtubule arrays throughout the cell cycle, and thus influence cell shape, polarity and motility. At the core of the centrosome are centrioles that are essential for nucleating the formation of primary cilium, a nexus for important signaling pathways including Hedgehog signaling. Vertebrate cells have an array of granules that localize around the centrosome, termed “centriolar satellites”. Importantly, there are many links between the centrosome/cilium complex and human disease. Abnormalities of centrosome structure and number have long been associated with cancer. Moreover, mutations affecting components of the centrosome/cilium complex cause ciliopathies, which are characterized by renal disease, retinal degeneration, neurocognitive deficits, obesity among others. To better understand the relationship between human diseases and centrosome/cilium complex abnormalities, it is important to elucidate the biogenesis of the centrosome/cilium complex and the control mechanisms that regulate their structure and function. To this end, we have been generating spatial and temporal proximity interaction maps for the centrosome/cilium complex using innovative proximity-labeling approaches. These proximity interaction maps have led to identification of new regulatory mechanisms for the centrosome/cilium complex. Today I will tak about several of these mechanisms. First, I will talk about the previously unappraciated function of centriolar satellites in regulating centriole duplication. Second, I will talk about the molecular mechanism of how centriolar satellites regulate primary cilium formation. Finally, I will talk about the molecular links between centrosome/cilium complex abnormalities and human diseases including retinal degeneration and microcephaly.

* Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Koç University

All interested are cordially invited!
http://unam.bilkent.edu.tr/