We are generally interested in spatial control of the microtubule cytoskeleton, and how this applies to the events necessary for mitosis and cell division. In particular we are interested in problems of size and shape. What sets the length of a mitotic spindle? Why is a spindle precisely positioned in a cell? Why do two cortical domains form of a certain size? Two technical steps forward have revolutionized the study of these problems in the last ten years. One is the development of genomics techniques, including RNA interference, and BAC transgenesis. The other is the contribution of physics to understanding biology. In our lab, we combine these approaches to study the following

• Mitotic spindle assembly and function, focusing on centrosomes.
• Distribution of force generating mechanisms necessary for the first asymmetric division.
• Establishment of cortical polarity.

We primarily work in C.elegans embryos, but we are also studying aspects of these problems in Human cells, using the emerging techniques of BAC transgenesis.

2009-06-05 - Hyman-Lab Trabi stars in US President Barack Obama's visit to Dresden. View Picture | More Pictures

Brangwynne CP, Eckmann CR, Courson DS, Rybarska A, Hoege C, Gharakhani J, Juelicher F, Hyman AA.
Germline P granules are liquid droplets that localize by controlled dissolution/condensation.
Science. 2009 Jun 26;324(5935):1729-32. PubMed

Howard J, Hyman AA.
Growth, fluctuation and switching at microtubule plus ends.
Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2009 Jun 10. PubMed

Lawo S, Bashkurov M, Mullin M, Ferreria MG, Kittler R, Habermann B, Tagliaferro A, Poser I, Hutchins JR, Hegemann B, Pinchev D, Buchholz F, Peters JM, Hyman AA, Gingras AC, Pelletier L.
HAUS, the 8-subunit human Augmin complex, regulates centrosome and spindle integrity.
Curr Biol. 2009 May 26;19(10):816-26. PubMed