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
- New MCB Undergraduate Scholarship AnnouncementA new campaign has been organized to raise money for an MCB undergraduate scholarship. Gifts to this fund will support scholarships within CLAS for incoming and current undergraduate students majoring in Molecular Cell Biology who demonstrate academic achievement and proven financial need. Contributions to the fund can be made on the UConn Foundation's MCB Scholarship page.Posted on October 28, 2024
- 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
News Archive
Upcoming Events
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Nov
4
MCB Micro Journal Club 4:00pm
MCB Micro Journal Club
Monday, November 4th, 2024
04:00 PM
BPB 401
Sønderholm, M., Kragh, K. N., Koren, K., Jakobsen, T. H., Darch, S. E., Alhede, M., Jensen, P. Ø., Whiteley, M., Kühl, M., & Bjarnsholt, T. (2017). Pseudomonas aeruginosa Aggregate Formation in an Alginate Bead Model System Exhibits In Vivo-Like Characteristics. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 83(9), e00113-17. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00113-17
Contact Information:
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Nov
5
MCB Seminar Series: Emma Watson 3:30pm
MCB Seminar Series: Emma Watson
Tuesday, November 5th, 2024
03:30 PM
BPB 131
Emma Watson
Assistant Professor, Department of Systems Biology
University of Massachusetts, Chan Medical School
Host: Andrei AlexandrescuChromosomal structure and function in cancer
Over 90% of cancer genomes have abnormal chromosomal composition, deviating (often significantly) from the normal 46 chromosomes in healthy cells. Chromosomes can be gained, lost, broken, and fused together during tumor genome evolution, with genomes ultimately converging on a set of features that are enriched in a tumor type-specific manner, for instance, +1q and +8q in breast cancer. We utilize in vitro approaches to model karyotype evolution in cancer and build tumor genomes in the lab from healthy diploid genomes. We use these models to uncover structural facilitators and functional drivers of these common chromosomal abnormalities in cancer.
About Dr. Watson:
Dr. Emma V. Watson obtained her B.S. in Biophysics from UConn, studying protein folding with Dr. Andrei Alexandrescu, and received her Ph.D. in Biomedical Science from UMass Chan Medical School studying metabolic gene network regulation with Dr. A. J. Marian Walhout. For her thesis work, Dr. Watson received an American Heart Association fellowship and the Harold M. Weintraub Award. Dr. Watson was a Damon Runyon Postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Stephen J. Elledge’s lab at Harvard Medical School, where she uncovered oncogenic roles of chromosomal abnormalities in cancer. Dr. Watson opened her lab at UMass Chan Medical School in 2022 where she focuses on cancer genome structure and function.Publications:
Chromosome evolution screens recapitulate tissue-specific tumor aneuploidy patterns
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Nov
8
MCB Seminar Series: Claire Peterson 12:20pm
MCB Seminar Series: Claire Peterson
Friday, November 8th, 2024
12:20 PM
BPB 130
Claire Peterson
Lynes LabContact Information:
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Nov
11
Micro Journal Club 4:00pm
Micro Journal Club
Monday, November 11th, 2024
04:00 PM
BPB 401
Host and pathogen factors that influence variability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipid body content in sputum from patients with tuberculosis: an observational study/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666524724001083?via%3Dihub
Contact Information:
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Nov
12
MCB Seminar Series: Eric Joyce 3:30pm
MCB Seminar Series: Eric Joyce
Tuesday, November 12th, 2024
03:30 PM
BPB 131
Dr. Eric Joyce
University of Pennsylvania
Host: Jelena ErcegFrom tangled mess to ordered structure: unraveling the mechanisms of 3D genome organization
My presentation will discuss our work to understand the mechanisms of genome organization. We leverage the HiDROplatform to identify and explore a noncanonical role of GSK3A, offering insights into chromatin dynamics and potential therapeutic strategies for cohesin-related disorders
About Dr. Joyce:
Eric Joyce, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Genetics and core member of the Epigenetics Institute at the Universityof Pennsylvania. Dr. Joyce conducted his postdoctoral training with Dr. Ting Wu at Harvard Medical School, where heco-developed a novel type of FISH probe called Oligopaints. Dr. Joyce’s lab continues to develop and utilize newtechnologies to interrogate chromosome structure at single-cell resolution. His lab aims to understand how thestructure of chromosomes within the nucleus is established and inherited across cell divisions, and how dysfunctionalorganization contributes to genome instability and disease. Most recently, his lab developed HiDRO, an automatedimaging pipeline to identify novel proteins that regulate genome organization.Publications:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37438531/
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