The actin cytoskeleton plays a diverse range of functions in cells, including powering cell motion and division. In order to perform these many functions, cells must have spatial and temporal control over the polymerization and depolymerization of actin polymers. In his talk, Dr. Hocky will discuss new developments in how the protein cofilin leads to actin filament severing, and the Hocky Lab's studies using molecular dynamics simulations to probe molecular details of this process. 

In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal motor neurons progressively degenerate while a subset of cranial motor neurons are spared until late stages of the disease. Taking advantage of embryonic stem cell (ESC) programming, we established an ALS model in vitro with ESC-derived cranial and spinal motor neurons and identified that the higher proteostatic capacity of cranial motor neuron could be an intrinsic and disease relevant mechanism underlying its resistance to ALS.