We are interested in understanding fundamental cellular processes, including in the context of development. Our main focus is on the mechanisms governing asymmetric division and centriole assembly.
Electron-microscopy of C. elegans centriole during oogenesis viewed in cross-section. Note 9-fold radial symmetric arrangement of microtubule singlets towards the periphery, as well as additional densities, including peripheral-most paddlewheels. The cross-sectional diameter is ~150 nm.
C. elegans embryo carrying a GFP-histone2B fusion protein imaged using dual time-lapse differential interference contrast (DIC) and overlaid fluorescence microscopy,. The embryo is ~50 μm long.
Mitotic HeLa human tissue culture cells stained with antibodies against -tubulin (viewed in green), the centriolar protein centrin (viewed in red), and counterstained with a DNA dye (viewed in blue). Middle: control condition; left: cell depleted by RNAi of a component essential for centriole assembly –note monopolar spindle; right: cell depleted by RNAi of a component essential for restricting centriole assembly –note multipolar spindle. See Balestra et al., 2013.
C. elegans gonad from an animal expressing the centriolar marker RFP:SAS-7 and a the marker of oocyte maturation RME-2::GFP; lower row shows inset of centriolar region. Note that the focus of RFP:SAS-7 diminishes as the oocyte matures and is entirely absent from the -1 oocyte.
