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Kathryn D. Curtin Office: SCEN 735 |
Degrees:
Ph.D. Harvard, 1995Research Interests:
My research focuses on understanding the function of a metastatic protein called basigin (or EMMPRIN). Basigin is found on the surface of a variety of metastatic tumors in humans. In addition, expression of basigin in tumors in a mouse model system leads to increase tumor size and increased tumor invasion. Basigin is also widely expressed in normal tissues. Despite its importance in cancer, basigin is not a well-studied molecule.
The long term goals of my lab are three fold. First, we are interested in understanding basigin at a molecular level. This includes understanding basigin’s interactions with integrin as well as identifying other proteins with which basigin interacts. Second, we are interested in correlating information about basigin’s molecular interactions with its cellular function. Third, we are using fruit flies as a model system to understand basigin’s role in cancer. We can generate tumors in a defined tissue in the fruit fly. These tumors are marked with green fluorescent protein so that tumor growth and tumor cell migration can be monitored by simple fluorescent microscopy. Because we can manipulate tumors genetically in defined ways, including altering expression of basigin in tumors, we can identify the genetic combinations that can lead to cancer. Students interested in any of these projects are welcome to visit and talk about this work.
Academic Interests:
Development and cancer using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism, Basigin function in normal and cancerous cells.Lab Website:
Click here to go to Dr. Curtin's lab website.
Recent Publications:
Curtin, K. D., Zhang, Z., and Wyman, R. J. 2002. Gap junction genes expressed during development are required for adult neural function in the Drosophila optic lamina. J. Neurosci. 22, 7088-7096.Curtin, K. D., Zhang, Z., and Wyman, R.J. 2002. Gap junction proteins are not interchangeable in development of neural function in the Drosophila visual system. J. Cell Sci. 115, 3379-3388.
Curtin, K. D., Meinertzhagen, I. A., and Wyman, R. J. 2004. Basigin (EMMPRIN) interacts with integrin to affect cellular architecture, submitted J. Cell Sci.