BME Distinguished Seminar Series
Presents

Doug Lauffenburger, Ph.D.
Whitaker Professor, Departments of Biological Engineering and Biology, and Center for Cancer Research, MIT

Cue-Signal-Response Analysis of Signaling Network Governance Of Cell Behavior

Friday, January 19, 2007
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
BME Lecture Hall (Room 1041), MR-5

ABSTRACT
Cell behavioral functions are controlled by biomolecular networks that translate stimulatory cues (e.g., ligand/receptor binding interactions, mechanical stresses, pathogen infection, and other environmental insults) into intracellular signals which regulate transcriptional and post-transcriptional, metabolic, and cytoskeletal processes that effect proximal and ultimate cell responses. While there is a growing body of work enhancing our understanding of how intracellular signals are generated by stimulatory cues, an exceptionally difficult challenge at the present time is to understand how these signals operate in integrated manner to govern cell phenotypic behavior. We are attempting to address this question via a combination of quantitative, dynamic protein-centric experimental manipulations and measurements with a spectrum of computational mining and modeling approaches. Particular application problems of our interest include cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, activation, and death, with an emphasis on ascertaining how effects of prospective therapeutics might be usefully predicted. This talk will present an overview of our perspective and approach, along with a specific example vignette describing work aimed at understanding how HER2 overexpression dysregulates signaling network control of epithelial cell migration.