Rachel Turn
Credentials: Comparative Biosciences
Position title: G0/fate change cellular mechanisms
Email: turn@wisc.edu
Address:
School of Veterinary Medicine- South Building
Lab Room #3421
2015 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
LAB WEBSITE:
In development.
FOCUS GROUPS:
Membrane Biology & Protein Trafficking; Developmental Biology & Regenerative Medicine; Cellular & Molecular Metabolism
RESEARCH DESCRIPTION:
Our research is driven by a fundamental question: what exactly is G0? Nearly every cell in the human body exits the cell cycle either as quiescent, stem-like cells poised to differentiate upon the correct signal or as terminally-differentiated cells with fate-specific functions. Yet, the cellular mechanisms that license cell cycle exit and fate commitment (and whether a universal marker of G0 even exists) remain unclear.
Our research has revealed a critical role for regulation of tight temporal-spatial regulation of the cell signaling landscape in establishing a healthy G0 program. To do so, we integrate advanced live- and fixed-cell imaging with time-resolved proteomics and phosphoproteomics in synchronized mammalian systems in an approach termed STAMP (Synchronized Temporal-Spatial Analysis via Microscopy and Proteomics). Thus, we can more cleanly resolve signaling dynamics in both time and space. As a framework for tracking G0 progression, we leverage the ordered assembly of the primary cilium, a signaling organelle that forms specifically in quiescent cells and provides a well-defined sequence of molecular landmarks. This strategy enables detailed cataloging of transient and spatially-restricted signaling events that may function as checkpoints during cell cycle exit and fate commitment. Our goal is to define how G0 is regulated across molecular and cellular scales. Disruption of quiescence contributes to diverse pathologies, including loss of regenerative capacity in pancreatic β cells in type 2 diabetes, uncontrolled proliferation in cancer, and stem cell dysfunction during aging. By establishing a systems-level understanding of G0, we aim to uncover fundamental principles governing cell fate decisions.
ALSO A TRAINER IN THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:
Molecular & Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program (MET)