Abby Buchwalter, PhD

Assistant Professor
Cardiovascular Research Inst
Research Description: 

We seek to understand how the organization of the cell nucleus is established, specialized across cell types, and maintained over time to influence cellular identity. "Nuclear organization" involves the non-random packaging of the genome within the nucleus, but also the assembly and interactions of other nuclear structures, such as the nuclear lamina and the nucleolus.

This work begins with a particular focus on the nuclear lamina, a nuclear structure that is essential for mammalian development and is mutated in ~15 "laminopathy" diseases that afflict the heart, muscle, bone, fat, and nervous system. We focus on three main thematic areas: (i) defining the essential roles that the nuclear lamina plays in nuclear organization, (ii) exploring disruption of nuclear organization as a possible cellular mechanism of aging, and (iii) determining how nuclear organization is maintained or, alternatively, remodeled, over time. We use cell biology, biochemistry, and systems biology to answer these questions.

Primary Thematic Area: 
Developmental & Stem Cell Biology
Secondary Thematic Area: 
Human Genetics
Research Summary: 
We seek to understand how the organization of the nucleus is established, specialized across cell types, and maintained over time to influence cellular identity.
Mentorship Development: 

11/21/19    Equity and Inclusion in the Lab (2 hours)
11/10/20    Optimizing the Efficiency of Your Lab
5/2021  Sharpening your Mentoring Skills (SyMS)

Websites

Featured Publications: 

Coaching from the sidelines: the nuclear periphery in genome regulation.

Nature reviews. Genetics

Buchwalter A, Kaneshiro JM, Hetzer MW

Nup50 is required for cell differentiation and exhibits transcription-dependent dynamics.

Molecular biology of the cell

Buchwalter AL, Liang Y, Hetzer MW