Our lab focuses on understanding the processes which lead to a remodelling of the nuclear compartment in health and disease.
In particular we look at how developmental or mechanical stimuli triggering pathways of reshaping. Our final goal is to understand how macromolecules work in concert to shape the nucleus, regulate nucleocytoplasmic transport and influence expression.
The cell nucleus contains the genetic information, while the cytoskeleton is the fundamental scaffold of eukaryotic cells, controlling cellular and organellar shape. The interaction nucleus-cytoskeleton is one of the most important in maintaining cellular homeostasis and it is in fact often altered in human pathologies. The understanding of the mechanistic principles of cytoskeleton organization involved in nuclear remodelling would therefore contribute to find solutions to mitigate diseases like developmental disorders and cancer metastatic progression.
The project is multifaceted with the main aims to:
1) determine proteins architectural changes during nuclear deformation by mechanical stress, or during early development
2) develop and build new tools to achieve the above goals
The PhD project will involve joining an extremely motivated and agile team with an interdisciplinary mentality and will get the support of the electron and light microscopy facilities, mechanical and electronics workshops, and of the collaborations with group leaders across LMB units.