Cytoskeletal Mechanisms of Organelle Motility
Cytoskeletal Mechanisms of Organelle Motility
My research has shown that pigment granule movement within cultured, isolated RPE (teleost retinal pigment epithelia) cells is dependent on the actin filament network. I am continuing to investigate the role of actin in pigment granule movements through the use of actin-inhibitory drugs and other compounds that interfere with actin-myosin interactions.
Techniques I use to study these processes include time-lapse video micrography of pigment movements in cells during and after experimental manipulations; immunofluorescent techniques on isolated cells, and gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting to label proteins in RPE that may be involved in motility.
Relevant Publications
King-Smith, C., P. Paz, C. W. Lee, W. Lam, and B. Burnside. Pigment granule migration in isolated retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells does not require microtubules, but is blocked by cytochalasin. submitted to the Journal of Cell Biology
King-Smith, C., L. Bost-Usinger and B. Burnside. 1995. Expression of kinesin heavy chain isoforms in retinal pigment epithelial cells of teleosts. Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton 31:66-81.
King, C. A. and T. W. Cronin. 1994a. Investigations of pigment granule transport systems in Gonodactylus oerstedii (Crustacea, Hoplocarida, Stomatopoda) I. Effects of low temperature on the pupillary response. Journal of Comparative PhysiologyA 175:323-329.
King, C. A. and T. W. Cronin. 1994b. Investigations of pigment granule transport systems in Gonodactylus oerstedii (Crustacea, Hoplocarida, Stomatopoda) II. Effects of low temperature on pigment granule position and microtubule populations in retinular cells. Journal of Comparative Physiology A 175:331-342.
King, C. A., and T. W. Cronin. 1993. Cytoskeleton of retinular cells from the stomatopod, Gonodactylus oerstedii: possible roles in pigment granule migration. Cell and Tissue Research 274:315-328
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King-Smith, C., P. Paz and B. Burnside. 1994. Pigment granule motility in isolated retinal pigmented epithelial cells (RPE) does not require microtubules but is blocked by cytochalasin. Molecular Biology of the Cell 5 (Suppl): 41a
King-Smith, C. and B. Burnside. 1994. RPE cells contain kinesin. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 35 (Suppl.):1757
King, C. A. and T. W. Cronin. 1991. Microtubule populations in crustacean photoreceptor cells: interactions with migratory pigment granules. Journal of Cell Biology 115 (Suppl.):39a
King, C. A. and T. W. Cronin. 1990. Intracellular motility in photoreceptors: Cytoskeleton of retinular cells in stomatopod crustaceans. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 31 (Suppl.):283
King, C. A. and T. W. Cronin. 1989. Ultrastructural evidence for the pupillary response in stomatopod photoreceptors: cytoskeleton and orientation of pigment granules. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 30 (Suppl.):292
mail
Dr. Christina King Smith
Department of Biology
Saint Joseph's University
5600 City Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19131-9949
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