Spatial and temporal regulation of immune specific myosins and their role in neuroinflammation

Myosin is a cytoskeletal motor that uses metabolic energy stored in ATP to do mechanical work. In the cell, myosin members of the class I family are vital for membrane dynamics and cellular trafficking. Two isoforms of myosin are found specifically in immune cells, and have roles in immune cell migration and phagocytosis. I aim to understand the molecular basis of the spatial and temporal regulation of immune cell-specific myosins. I will employ a combination of proteomics and cellular analyses to identify the interacting partners of these motors. I will also use biophysical and biochemical techniques, such as optical trap experiments and stopped-flow spectroscopy, to investigate the impact of post-translational modifications on the regulation of these motors. These studies will help to explain how dysregulation of immune-specific myosins can give rise to neuroinflammation, a common feature of neurodegenerative disease, and can be used to design potential new therapies.