Marija Zanic Research Group

Vanderbilt University

How do groups of regulatory proteins control microtubule switching between growth and shrinkage in cells? The group performs biochemical in vitro reconstitution to test molecular-level polymer dynamics in controlled assays. Researchers combine single molecule studies and quantitative image analysis to measure mechanisms of microtubule regulation by associated protein complexes. The lab develops quantitative, predictive models of molecular-level polymer dynamics and tests them experimentally to reveal emergent collective behaviors. The group pairs in vitro reconstitution with structural biology and live-cell studies to connect molecular mechanisms to large-scale dynamic cellular structures.