Robert D. Goldman, PhD Stephen Walter Ranson Professor and Chair Cell and Molecular Biology Structure and function of cytoskeletal and nucleoskeletal intermediate filament Curricula: Cancer Biology Cell Biology E-mail:   r-goldman@northwestern.edu

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Our research focuses on the structure and function of cytoskeletal and nucleoskeletal intermediate filament (IF) networks in fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and nerve cells. IFs are composed of a large family of proteins that vary in composition from one cell type to another. Our work has demonstrated that cytoskeletal IF form elaborate networks throughout the cytoplasm and establish connections with both the nuclear and cell surfaces. Within the nucleus, the nuclear lamins form a major nucleoskeletal network. These proteins are concentrated in the lamina, which acts as an interface between chromatin and the nuclear membrane. We have recently demonstrated that the lamins also form a nucleoplasmic network which appears to be involved in the regulation of DNA replication.

Our approach to studying IF systems involves biochemical, morphological, immunological, cell physiological, and molecular approaches. Our working hypothesis is that the IF system forms a dynamic network linking the nuclear and cell surfaces, functioning in such diverse activities as the establishment and maintenance of cell shape, organelle movements within the cytoplasm, nuclear positioning, nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions, signal transduction, chromatin organization and nuclear envelope assembly and disassembly during cell division.

Since many human diseases have been linked to changes in cytoskeletal IF systems, we are developing models to study the mechanisms involved in IF alterations in various diseases ranging from neurological disorders such as ALS and Parkinson’s disease (Lou Gehrig's disease) to various forms of muscular dystrophy. During the summer, members of the laboratory conduct studies on the mechanisms of chromatin/nuclear lamin interactions in nuclei of the eggs of surf clams at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole.

Publications:

Chou, Y.-H., Helfand, B.T. and Goldman, R.D. (2001). New horizons in cytoskeletal dynamics: transport of intermediate filaments along microtubule tracks. Current Opinion in Cell Biol. 13: 1106-109.

Yoon, K.-H., Yoon, M., Moir, R.D., Khuon, S., Flitney, F.W. and Goldman, R.D. (2001). Insights into the dynamic properties of keratin intermediate filaments (IF) in living epithelial cells. J. Cell Biol. 153: 503-516.

Lopez-Soler, R., Moir, R.D., Spann, T.P., Stick, R. and Goldman, R.D. (2001). A role for nuclear lamins in nuclear envelope assembly. J. Cell Biol. 154: 61-70.

Spann, T.P., Goldman, A.E., Wang, C., Huang, S. and Goldman, R.D. (2002). Alteration of nuclear lamin organization inhibits RNA polymerase II RNA dependent transcription. J. Cell Biol. 156: 603-608.

Goldman, R.D., Gruenbaum, Y., Moir, R.M., Shumaker, D.K. and Spann, T.P. (2002). Nuclear lamins: building blocks of nuclear architecture. Genes and Development. 16: 533-547.