This is a new and exciting project that aims to test if gelsolin participates in signaling pathways associated with tumour progression.
Gelsolin is a 82 kDa protein which has several functions in cellular processes, including actin cytoskeletal dynamics, apoptosis and phagocytosis. Besides actin, gelsolin also binds signaling molecules such as phosphoinositides. Several tumours have been found to express reduced levels of gelsolin. It is therefore possible that gelsolin normally inhibits tumour-inducing pathways, which are activated with gelsolin downregulation.
The project presents opportunities to gain experience in a variety of techniques to test our hypotheses, including cell culture, flow cytometry, confocal imaging and molecular biology.
Click here for timelapse movie of glioblastoma cells moving in culture (captured by confocal microscopy)!