intercellular junctions, adhesion, desmosomes, adherens junctions, signal transduction, cell motility, skin disease, cadherins, cancer metastasis.

I am interested in the regulation of the intercellular adhesive junction, the desmosome, during processes such as wound healing and morphogenesis. Currently my studies are focused on the plakin protein, desmoplakin, an obligate member of the desmosomal plaque, which mediates the interaction between the plaque and the intermediate filament network. This interaction with the intermediate filament network is required for maintaining tissue integrity, particularly those tissues undergoing large amounts of stress, such as the heart and skin. The importance of desmoplakin in maintaining adhesive strength is highlighted by cardiomyopathies and skin diseases, which result from desmoplakin mutations. Utilizing biochemistry and fixed and live cell imaging techniques we are analyzing the dynamics of desmoplakin during desmosome formation and the roles the intermediate filament and microfilament networks play in that process.