We are interested in the connection between cellular decisions to assemble factors at the right time and place, and in the right shape with the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton that make these changes occur. Such coordination is essential for many processes including neuronal outgrowth, wound healing, and specific localization of morphogens during development. The temporal and spatial regulation that allows structures to be assembled appropriately requires that cells and organisms be able to distinguish among various spatial domains, that cells be able to regulate the activity and organization of both the cytoskeleon and secretory apparatus, and that these events be coordinated with respect to other events of the cell cycle or the developmental stage of an organism. The regulation of polarized secretion to the bud tip followed by isotropic growth results in the round shape of the bud. The BUD genes were identified in hunts for mutant cells that fail to exhibit these stereotyped patterns.
Cytokinesis occurs at the position established by the bud-site selection machinery.
Like bud-site selection, both the timing and position of the cytokinetic machinery must be carefully regulated. We are interested in why spatial signals generated from the mating partner are preferred over Bud-dependent polarity cues. As a result, we are interested in the interplay between components required for bud-site selection and mating. Our current goal is to understand how Bud factors are localized during the cell cycle, and to understand how the Bud proteins attract those components necessary to build a bud. Using these strains, Stephanie hopes to identify binding partners for the Bud factors specific to particular cell-cycle stages.