Prof. Jianjun Bao, Department of Physics, Wayne State University, presents: The structure and function of TRIOBP: an actin-bundling protein implicated in cancer biology
In this talk, I will discuss the work from our laboratory on the novel role of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) trio binding protein (TRIOBP) in pancreatic cancer progression. In the first portion of the talk, I will focus on identifying the actin-binding domains in TRIOBP isoform 4 (TRIOBP-4). Previous in vitro study reveals that TRIOBP-4 forms uniquely dense actin bundles distinct from any other known actin cross-linkers. As the first step to define the actin-bundling mechanism by TRIOBP-4, I will present our work on how we identify its actin-binding domain by biochemical assays, biophysical and cell biological methods. In the second portion of my talk, I will discuss the potential role of TRIOBP in pancreatic cancer progression that has not been reported yet. I will cover our findings on TRIOBP expression in cancer cell lines, and how TRIOBP isoforms 4 and 5 affect cancer cell cytoskeleton structure and directed migration. Finally, I will discuss the possibility that TRIOBP regulates genomic stability in cancer cells.