The Bird Lab, led by Dr. Jonathan Bird, focuses on nanoscopic molecular motors and their interactions with the cytoskeleton, which generate cellular force and movement. Cells contain an intricate scaffolding system, known as the cytoskeleton, which provides structural support and shape to cells, as well as forming a molecular highway that allows for essential molecules to be delivered throughout the cell. These cytoskeletal and molecular motor networks are fundamental to many cellular processes, and their disruption leads to human disease.
The Bird Lab focuses on a specific class of motor, called myosins, that generate force using the actin cytoskeleton. Myosin motors are classically involved in producing force in muscle. However, they have numerous other essential functions throughout the body and are emerging as powerful new therapeutic targets for disease. A specific focus of the Bird Lab is how myosin motors organize and shape the actin cytoskeleton to generate cellular projections, such as sound-sensitive “antenna” in the inner ear, and neuronal architectures in the brain. We utilize purified proteins to reconstitute and study the unique properties of myosin motors, and use this information in parallel with mouse models to understand mechanisms of hearing loss and neurodegeneration.