Vladimir I. Rodionov

Research in this laboratory is focused on molecular mechanisms of intracellular transport and organization of microtubule cytoskeleton. The model system that is being used is melanophores, pigment cells of lower vertebrates. The only function of these large cells is synchronous transport of thousands of membrane-bounded organelles, pigment granules, which rapidly move to the cell center to form a tight aggregate or redisperse uniformly throughout the cytoplasm. During aggregation, pigment granules move along microtubules by means of cytoplasmic dynein. Pigment dispersion involves initial rapid microtubule-dependent transport to the periphery by Kinesin II and subsequent slow diffusion-like movement along the randomly arranged actin filaments. Transport is regulated by Protein Kinase A (PKA) signaling cascade. Thus, melanophores provide a unique model system for the studies of the role of cytoskeleton in intracellular transport, mechanisms of switching between the two major transport systems, and regulation of activity of motor molecules by signal transduction mechanisms.

[2021] Persistent growth of microtubules at low density. Burakov, Anton; Vorobjev, Ivan; Semenova, Irina; Cowan, Ann; Carson, John; Wu, Yi; Rodionov, Vladimir Molecular biology of the cell 2021 Mar;32(5):435-445