christopher-groen@uiowa.edu
Mentor: Tina Tootle, Ph.D.
Lab Room: 1-500 BSB
Lab Phone: 319-335-7713

Investigating the regulation of actin dynamics by prostaglandin signaling.

We are utilizing Drosophila oogenesis as a model for studying prostaglandin signaling and how it regulates actin cytoskeletal dynamics. During oogenesis, major rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton are required for late stage follicle development. Formation of actin filament bundles occurs during stage 10 of follicle development, and inhibition of prostaglandins disrupts this process and prevents nurse cell dumping. We use pharmacologic inhibition of prostaglandins by targeting the Drosophila COX enzyme pxt with aspirin, and also use genetics to determine the mechanisms of prostaglandin signaling that lead to actin cytoskeletal rearrangements.

Groen CM*, Spracklen AJ*, Fagan TN, Tootle TL. Drosophila Fascin is a novel downstream target of prostaglandin signaling during actin remodeling. Mol Biol Cell. 2012 Dec;23(23):4567-78. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E12-05-0417. Epub 2012 Oct 10. PubMed PMID: 23051736; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3510018. *authors contributed equally