Cell polarity is required for the proper function of many cells and for the establishment of symmetry and asymmetrical cell divisions during development. How do cell polarize at specific sites in the cell in order to develop a particular cell shape, or to crawl, grow and secrete in the proper direction?

Regulation of cell polarity in many cell types depends on the interaction of microtubules and actin. In fission yeast, we are elucidating a mechanism for how microtubules regulate the growth of yeast cells at cell tips. Our working model is that microtubule plus ends may deposit a protein tea1p at the cell tips. At the cell tips, tea1p may function to establish polarized cell growth by recruiting the "polarisome complex," complex of proteins (including bud6p and the formin for3p). The polarisome complex then functions to assemble actin cables that function to polarize cell growth at the cell tip. Current projects include purification and characterization of the polarisome.