Brad Nolen PhD

Dr. Nolen's lab is investigating the molecular basis for regulation of the cytoskeleton, the molecular framework that provides physical support for cells. One of our primary interests is actin, a highly conserved eukaryotic protein that polymerizes into two-stranded helical filaments. Rearrangements of the actin filament network are critical for cellular processes that require a change in cell shapes, such as motility, uptake, and release of materials, and cell division. To regulate these processes, cells utilize a myriad of proteins to control polymerization, depolymerization, severing, capping, and crosslinking of actin filaments.