G.W. Gant Luxton, PhD
Research Techniques:
Quantitative fluorescence microscopy of fixed and living cells, culture of cell lines and primary neurons, reverse genetics, molecular biology, and virology
Research Interests:
The nuclear-centrosomal axis is a fundamental cellular polarity axis defined by drawing a line through the center of the nucleus and the centrosome. This axis, identified by Van Beneden in the late 1800s, is oriented with respect to morphological polarity in many cell types suggesting that it contributes to the generation and/or maintenance of cell polarity. Recently, it has become clear that nuclear-centrosomal axis orientation depends upon the coordinated, but separate positioning of the nucleus and the centrosome. The Luxton lab is focused on understanding the establishment and function of nuclear-centrosomal axis orientation during cell migration as well as tissue development and regeneration. Specifically, we are interested in determining the mechanisms of nuclear and centrosomal positioning and understanding how a migrating cell interprets this positional information. We are also interested in understanding how defects in nuclear-centrosomal axis orientation might contribute to human disease, specifically the neurological movement disorder, dystonia, which is characterized by sustained painful muscle contractions that cause twisiting and repetitive movements or abnormal posturing.
Selected Publications:
Luxton GWG and Gundersen GG (2011) Orientation and function of the nuclear-centrosomal axis during cell migration. Curr Opin Cell Biol. Epub ahead of print.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21885270
Luxton GWG, Gomes ER, Folker ES, Worman HJ, and Gundersen GG (2011) TAN lines: A novel nuclear envelope structure involved in nuclear positioning. Nucleus. May;2(3):173-181.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21818410
Folker ES, Östlund C, Luxton GWG, Worman HJ, and Gundersen GG (2011) Lamin A variants that cause striated muscle disease are defective in anchorning ransmembrane actin-associated nuclear lines for nuclear movement. Proc Natl Acad Sci. Jan 4;108(1):131-6.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21173262
Luxton GWG, Gomes ER, Folker ES, Vintinner E, and Gundersen GG (2010) Linear arrays of nuclear envelope proteins harness retrograde actin flow for nuclear movement. Science. Aug 20;329(5994):956-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20724637
Luxton GWG and Gundersen GG (2007) HDAC6-pack: cortactin acetylation joins the brew. Dev Cell. Aug;13(2):161-2.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17681125
Lee JI*, Luxton GWG*, and Smith GA (2006) Identification of an essential domain in the herpesvirus VP1/2 tegument protein: the carboxy terminus directs incorporation into capsid assemblons. J Virol. Dec; 80(24):12086-94.
*Co-first authorship
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17005660
Luxton GWG, Lee JI, Haverlock-Moyns S, Schober JM, and Smith GA (2006) The pesudorabies virus VP1/2 tegument protein is required for intracellular capsid transport. J Virol. Jan;80(1):201-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16352544
Tyler KM, Luxton GWG, Applewhite DA, Murphy SC, and Engman DM (2005) Responsive microtubule dynamics promote cell invasion by Trypanosoma cruzi. Cell Microbiol. Nov;7(11)1579-91.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16207245
Luxton GWG, Haverlock S, Coller KE, Antinone SE, Pincetic A, and Smith GA (2005) Targeting of herpesvirus capsid transport in axons is coupled to association with specific sets of tegument proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci. Apr 19;102(16):5832-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15795370
Yan Z, Zak R, Luxton GWG, Ritchie TC, Bantel-Schaal U, and Engelhardt JF (2002) Ubiquitination of both adeno-associated virus type 2 and 5 capsid proteins affects the transduction efficiency of recombinant vectors. J Virol. Mar;76(5):2043-53.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11836382
To view these and other publications visit http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed
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type Luxton GWG in the avaliable line
Office:
4-128 MCB
P: 612-624-8343
A) A reproduction of Van Beneden's drawing of the nuclear-
centrosomal axis. B) The wounded fibroblast monolayer system,
as used to study nuclear-centrosomal axis orientation. NIH3T3
fibroblasts are shown. The wound edge is at the top of the
image. Staining: Green (microtubules), Blue (DNA) and Red (centrosome).
A super-resolution image of dorsal actin cables associated with the nucleus of an NIH3T3 fibroblast. This image was generated with the OMX microscope from Applied Precision. Staining: Blue (DNA) and Red (F-actin).
A) Trans-membrane actin-associated nuclear (TAN) lines are acto-myosin dependent structures composed of the outer nuclear membrane nesprin-2G and the inner nuclear membrane SUN2. Shown are images of nuclei in nesprin-2G-depleted cells expressing GFP-mini-nesprin-2G (GFP-mini-N2G), a probe for TAN lines, and stained for either F-actin or SUN2. B) Nuclear- centrosomal axis orientation in fibroblasts occurs as a result of nuclear movement mediated by retrograde flow of dorsal actin cables. TAN lines couple the forces generated by this retrograde flow to the nuclear envelope. Lamin A/C anchors the TAN lines to allow force to be transmitted to the nucleus.
