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Atherton Group

Microtubules are essential dynamic cytoplasmic filaments, serving structural roles and as platforms for molecular motors and compartmentalised signalling. Microtubule organisation is regulated by an array of binding partners. Microtubules and associated proteins are indispensable to eukaryotic cellular fundamentals including cell division, differentiation and plasticity. Their dysfunction or hijack are implicated in cancers, neurological conditions and infectious diseases.

Our Group aims to unveil the mechanisms of microtubule-associated regulators and molecular motors integral to cellular function and dysfunction, with a central nervous system emphasis, primarily using the powerful and popular technique of cryo-electron microscopy to determine structure-function relationships at various scales.

Members

Joe Atherton

Joe Atherton

Lecturer

Tom Foran

Tom Foran

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Close up of microscope

Mechanisms of kinesin management by kinesin binding protein

Kinesin-binding protein (KBP) associates with a subset of kinesin family motor domains, inhibiting microtubule attachment. KBP is important in a number of cellular processes including mitosis, spermatogenesis and neuronal differentiation and cargo distribution. The KBP gene causes a developmental condition known as Goldberg-Shprintzen syndrome and certain genotypes drive neuroblastoma survival outcomes. We study the structural mechanisms of KBP’s kinesin member selection and inhibition, as well the regulation and function of KBP in cellular processes, using cryo-electron microscopy and supporting techniques.

Cell tomography

The oligodendrocyte cytoskeleton in myelin wrapping

Oligodendrocytes are glial cells of the central nervous system that wrap neuronal axons in layers of insulating myelin, ensuring fast and efficient neurotransmission. Myelin pathology underlies a number of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental conditions, including multiple sclerosis. The unique oligodendrocyte cytoskeleton is vital in driving morphological maturation and myelin wrapping processes. Our group aims to decipher the ultrastructural morphogenesis of the oligodendrocyte cytoskeleton during maturation and myelin wrapping using cellular cryo-tomography and reveal the structures of unique participatory oligodendrocyte cytoskeletal proteins using single-particle cryo-electron microscopy.

Virus microtubule

Structural mechanisms of viral microtubule and motor regulation

Viruses hijack the microtubule cytoskeleton and molecular motors in order to move to and from entry, replication and exit sites and suppress host immune responses. Viruses encode proteins that bind molecular motors and microtubules to modify their dynamics and organization at different stages of infection. We study the mechanisms of viral microtubule and motor protein regulation primarily via cryo-electron microscopy techniques.

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Our partners

Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging logo

Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging

Group lead

Joe Atherton

Joe Atherton

Lecturer

Contact us

0207 836 5454