The mission of MCB is to understand fundamental biological processes at the molecular and cellular levels across all domains of life. We accomplish this through research, classroom teaching, and laboratory training directed at promoting the intellectual curiosity and critical thinking of individuals at all career levels including undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research staff members, and faculty.
News
- In Memoriam: Dr. Hans Laufer, MCB Professor EmeritusIn Memoriam: Dr. Hans Laufer, MCB Professor Emeritus, October 18, 1929 – August 17, 2024 It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Dr. Hans Laufer. Hans was Professor Emeritus in the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology at the University of Connecticut since his retirement in 1997. Hans completed his PhD […]Posted on September 25, 2024
- Picturing MCB Image Competition Winners AnnouncedIn science, art and data are often indistinguishable. To showcase the beauty of the Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB) Department's research and the creativity of its members, we held a Picturing MCB Image Competition! There were four categories: Microscopy, Cool Science, Data Visualization and MCB in Action. The winners were announced at the department's annual retreat. […]Posted on September 10, 2024
- In Memoriam: Jean RomanoWife of former MCB colleague Tony Romano and co-founder of the MCB Antonio H. & Marjorie J. Romano Graduate Education Fellowship Jean Romano passed away on August 8, 2024. Obituary for Marjorie Romano.Posted on September 9, 2024
- 2024 MCB Department RetreatThe Annual MCB Department Retreat was held on 8/22/24 at the beautiful UConn Avery Point campus. Highlights include the presentation of MCB Summer Fellowship Awards, Research talks by new faculty members Dylan Murray and Kristen Ramsey, a Poster Session, food trucks, a lively trivia game, and announcement of the first annual MCB image competition winners. […]Posted on September 5, 2024
- MCB Department Welcomes New FacultyMCB is excited to introduce our two newest faculty members, Dylan Murray and Kristin Ramsey. Dylan Murray joins the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology as an assistant professor. Murray earned his doctorate degree in molecular biophysics from Florida State University and worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health. Murray’s research interest […]Posted on September 3, 2024
News Archive
Upcoming Events
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Oct
25
NESS 24 - North East Structure Symposium All Day
NESS 24 - North East Structure Symposium
Friday, October 25th, 2024
All Day
Grossman Auditorium in the UConn Health Cell Sciences Building, 400 Farmington Ave., Farmington CT.
NMR and cryo-EM: A ConversationConfirmed speakers include Harald Schwalbe (U Frankfurt), Wolfgang Peti (UCH), Elizabeth Wright (UW-Madison), Wah Chiu (Stanford), Rui Zhang (Wash U), Paul Robustelli (Dartmouth), Jean Baum (Rutgers) and Andy Byrd (UCH).
This year, in addition to a poster session (with prizes), a number of poster presenters will be invited to give short promoted talks.The day-long meeting is free, including breakfast and lunch, however we do ask that you register at https://forms.office.com/r/RUUg1sXVhcContact Information:
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Oct
28
MCB Micro Journal Club 4:00pm
MCB Micro Journal Club
Monday, October 28th, 2024
04:00 PM
BPB 401
Cordero, I., Leizeaga, A., Hicks, L.C. et al. High intensity perturbations induce an abrupt shift in soil microbial state. ISME J 17, 2190–2199 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-023-01512-y
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Oct
29
MCB Seminar Series: Dr. Michael Blower 3:30pm
MCB Seminar Series: Dr. Michael Blower
Tuesday, October 29th, 2024
03:30 PM
BPB 131
Dr. Michael Blower
Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Chobanian and Avedesian School of Medicine.
Boston UniversityHost: Stacey Hanlon
Investigating chromatin:RNA interactions during the cell cycle
Control of gene expression is critical for normal cell growth and organismal development. Recent work has found that RNA is an important component of chromatin and is a critical regulator of gene expression. However, little is known
about how RNA interacts with chromatin and how RNA:chromatin interactions are regulated during the cell cycle. I will speak about our recent work investigating the molecular mechanisms controlling chromatin: RNA interactions during the cell cycle and show that these interactions are critical for cell proliferation.Bio: Mike Blower received a Bachelors in Microbiology from Miami University (Ohio) and completed his PhD. thesis in thelab of Dr. Gary Karpen at the University of California San Diego, where he studied centromere formation in Drosophila.He then completed postdoctoral training in the labs of Dr. Rebecca Heald and Karsten Weis at the University ofCalifornia, Berkeley studying mitotic spindle formation in Xenopus. In 2006 he started an independent lab atMassachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He joined the faculty in the Department of Biochemistryand Cell Biology at Boston University Medical School in 2020.
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Nov
1
MCB Research in Progress: Dan Phillips 12:20pm
MCB Research in Progress: Dan Phillips
Friday, November 1st, 2024
12:20 PM
BPB 130
Dan Phillips
Gogarten LabThe Cyanobacterial dnaX intein
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Nov
1
MCB Faculty Meeting 1:30pm
Recent Publications
Cole/May Labs:
Dimerization Promotes PKR Activation by Modulating Energetics of αC Helix Conversion between Active and Inactive Conformations
J. Phys. Chem. B
Alexandrescu/Alder Labs:
Perturbations in mitochondrial metabolism associated with defective cardiolipin biosynthesis: An in-organello real-time NMR study
JBC
Gogarten Lab:
Using the pan-genomic framework for the discovery of genomic islands in the haloarchaeon Halorubrum ezzemoulense
mBio
Gogarten Lab:
Leptospira interrogans encodes a canonical BamA and three novel noNterm Omp85 outer membrane protein paralogs
Sci Rep
Gogarten Lab:
Investigating Additive and Replacing Horizontal Gene Transfers Using Phylogenies and Whole Genomes
GBE
Alexandrescu Lab:
Formerly degenerate seventh zinc-finger domain from transcription factor ZNF711 rehabilitated by experimental NMR structure
Protein Science
Campellone Lab:
WHAMM functions in kidney reabsorption and polymerizes actin to promote autophagosomal membrane closure and cargo sequestration
MBoC