Moving Forward — A team of Einstein researchers led by Dr. Hernando Sosa, has been awarded $1.7 million over four years by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to study the regulation of kinesins, a group of proteins involved in transporting materials between different parts of the cell, as needed. In contrast to most kinesin regulation research, which has focused on accessory parts of the protein, Dr. Sosa’s laboratory will employ advanced biophysical, microscopical, and computational techniques to study the regulation of its functional core. Because the kinesins chosen for study play key roles in fundamental cellular processes in a variety of tissues, improved understanding of kinesin functionality will provide a foundation for the development of therapeutics in many human diseases, including motor neuron diseases and Alzheimer’s disease. Other researchers involved with the grant include Drs. Gary Gerfen, Ao Ma, and David Sharp. Drs. Sosa and Gerfen are associate professors of physiology & biophysics; Dr. Ma is assistant professor of physiology & biophysics; and Dr. Sharp is professor of physiology & biophysics.
Posted on: Tuesday, June 12, 2012