Cooper, Jonathan

We are interested in the molecular mechanisms that regulate cell morphology and migration during normal development, and how these events are deregulated in cancer. We study the endocytosis and recycling of cell surface receptors and the signaling cascades they trigger, with particular emphasis on tyrosine phosphorylation. We make extensive use of in vivo studies using mutant mice as well as cell and tissue culture systems. Genetic studies, guided by biochemistry, have uncovered a signaling pathway involving the Src tyrosine kinase, Dab1 adaptor and Cul5 E3 ligase that regulates neuron migrations during brain development. Some aspects of the pathway also regulate malignant transformation.