Cell Adhesion and Signal Transduction

Description of projects available to graduate students:
Cell-extracellular matrix adhesion is a fundamental process that regulates cell shape, proliferation and differentiation. Abnormalities in cell-matrix
adhesion and extracellular matrix assembly are closely associated with the pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases including cancer and diabetic nephropathy. The research in our laboratory focuses on the molecular
mechanism by which cells regulate cell-matrix adhesion and signal transduction (Cell, 2003, 113(1): p37-47; J. Cell Biol., 2003, 160(7):p1001-1008; Mol. Cell, 2005, 17: p513-523, Trends in Cell Biology, 2005, 15(9):460-466; J. Biol. Chem., 2007, 282(28):p20455-66, J. Biol. Chem.,2008, 283(5):p2508-2517; EMBO Reports, 2008, 9(12):p1203-1208; J. Cell Biol., 2009, 184(6):785-792). For information on our research program, please visit our websites http://path.upmc.edu/personnel/Faculty/Wu-C.htm and http://path.upmc.edu/cmp/fac33.htm.

Techniques graduate student will learn:
Students and post-doctoral researchers who enter our laboratory will learn a wide variety of molecular and cell biological techniques including molecular cloning, mutagenesis, gene transfer, protein expression, yeast two-hybrid and other protein-protein interaction assays, hybridoma production, cell culture, cell adhesion, cell migration, immunofluorescence microscopy, immunoprecipitation, Northern, Southern and
Western blotting, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and immunohistochemistry, and will have opportunities of developing new research projects and
contributing to the advance of this exciting area in molecular and cellular pathology.