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Gary R. Walker Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Molecular Biology and Microbiology Division Youngstown State University Youngstown, Ohio 44555-3601 Phone (330) 742-7177 email grwalker@cc.ysu.edu Web Site: www.cc.ysu.edu/~grwalker	Back to Scientists

Research Interests

The cytoskeleton is composed of filamentous protein complexes that forms an insoluble lattice-like framework within the cell. In addition to a variety of functions, this structure provides to the cell, it functions in cell division. Cell division is composed of two stages, division of the nucleus (karyokinesis) and division of the cytoplasm (cytokinesis). A specific part of the cytoskeleton, composed of actin filaments, forms a specialized organelle called the contractile ring. The contractile ring is responsible for carrying out cytokinesis. One of my interests is in developing in vitro model systems of the actin cytoskeleton that can be used to study cytokinesis more precisely. The cell division cycle is under strict temporal and spatial regulation that depends on the activity of a variety of specific protein kinases. In addition, the specific role of these kinases in regulating the changes in the actin cytoskeleton during cytokinesis is the central focus of my research.

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Youngstown State Department of Biological Sciences
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