Defining Centriolar Plaque Architecture and Function Across Eukaryotic Diversity Using Expansion Microscopy and Proteomics

This research proposal aims to decode the structural and molecular architecture of centriolar plaques (CPs), a non-centrosomal microtubule organizing center, in the context of atypical eukaryotic cell division. Using expansion microscopy (U-ExM), we will map CP composition and dynamics with high resolution investigating their roles in MTOC formation, cell polarity, and organelle segregation during division. Our approach integrates U-ExM with functional analyses, leveraging CRISPR-Cas9 technology to generate inducible knockdown cell lines. This strategy will reveal the localizations and roles of key CP components, including taxon-specific and conserved proteins, in supporting nuclear division and cellular organization. By advancing our understanding of CP architecture and function, this work will provide transformative insights into conserved and divergent principles of eukaryotic cell division, offering a comparative framework to explore cellular diversity across eukaryotes. Project Number: 1R35GM161216-01 | Fiscal Year: 2026 | NIH Institute/Center: National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) | Principal Investigator: Sabrina Absalon | Institution: INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANAPOLIS, IN | Award Amount: $396,250 | Activity Code: R35 | Study Section: Special Emphasis Panel[ZRG1 CDB-N (55)] View on NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11258119