Past Seminars

The weekly seminar series organized by CNT and the Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute provides a forum for bringing national and international leaders in nanoscale science and technology to campus, and for graduate students enrolled in our Dual Ph.D. program in Nanotechnology to present their research.

All seminars are held on Tuesdays from 2:30 to 3:20 PM in Johnson Hall Room 102 (North end of building and across from MolE).

The University of Washington is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation contact the Disability Services Office at least ten days in advance at: (206) 543-6450/V, (206) 543-6452/TTY, (206) 685-7264 (FAX), or dso@uw.edu.

Seminars

2012-11-20

Pushing or pulling- How the cell finds its center

Asst. Prof. Tanmay Lele, University of Florida - Chemical Engineering
Speaker's Website
Asst. Prof. Nathan J. Sniadecki, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

There are two contrasting views on how the centrosome is centered in the cell. One view is that microtubules grow out from the centrosome and push on the cell membrane. The other view is that molecular motors pull on microtubules and center the centrosome. We severed single living microtubules with a femtosecond laser. On severing, the minus-ended microtubules bend further, suggesting that microtubules are under tension. On inhibiting dynein activity, microtubules straighten. We propose that dynein pulls on microtubules and pulls the centrosome into place. I will conclude with evidence for how dynein also tugs on the nuclear surface and causes nuclear rotations.