# Microtubule motors, cytoskeletal organization and cell polarity

> **NIH NIH R35** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $937,528

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The overall goal of our work is to understand how microtubules and microtubule motors define
the structure of cytoplasm and interphase cell polarization. We and others have established, that
in addition to the “canonical” function of moving cargo along microtubules, kinesin-1 and
cytoplasmic dynein can move cytoskeletal filaments themselves thus organizing the cytoplasm
and polarizing cells. We will use three biological models in this proposal (i) Drosophila oocytes,
where transport of microtubules by kinesin-1 drives bulk rotation of cytoplasm for localization of
polarity determinants and cytoplasmic dynein responsible for the bulk cargo transport in nurse
cells and from nurse cells to the oocyte; (ii) cells with elongated processes (neurons and terminal
cells of the trachea of Drosophila) where the movement of parallel or antiparallel microtubule
arrays is involved in the generation of processes and extension of the intracellular lumen in
terminal cells; (iii) dynamics of intermediate filaments in mammalian cells that is defined by
microtubules and microtubule motors. Discoveries of new mechanisms that we hope to generate
will be useful for development of new treatments of neurodegenerative disorders and the defects
of egg development in humans.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10839655
- **Project number:** 2R35GM131752-06
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Vladimir I Gelfand
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $937,528
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2019-06-07 → 2029-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10839655

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10839655, Microtubule motors, cytoskeletal organization and cell polarity (2R35GM131752-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10839655. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*