https://www.theschroederlab.org/science daily 0.75 2024-04-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/30ad1438-afa2-4636-9a9d-735a0b9ff089/Screenshot+2024-04-05+at+9.57.43%E2%80%AFAM.png Science - Make it stand out We take an interdisciplinary approach to study divergent cytoskeletal proteins across phyla. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1625923289287-W6Y2OOBY6PRUYTYIE76N/Arp53D+localizes+at+the+leading+edge+of+actin+cones.jpg Science - What are the germline functions of divergent Arps in Drosophila? We have found that several divergent Arps in Drosophila localize to germline-specific actin structures. What are the molecular roles of Arps at these germline structures, and how do they impact fertility? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1625923441316-TPYRBNFTMDFUIS1FDEBQ/MAX_Stack+002+dna-1+brighter.jpg Science - What roles do divergent Drosophila Arps play beyond the testis? The most functional work on divergent Arps has been done on a non-canonical Arp in Drosophila: Arp53D. Despite having highest expression in the testis, Arp53D impacts female fertility and heat-stressed embryogenesis. Females lacking the Arp53D gene lay embryos with reduced nuclear integrity and lower viability. How does Arp53D impact embryonic development, and does it play a role in the heat stress response? Do additional ‘testis’ Arps also play roles in development? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1626224817976-3SBDIBHWOSGL5524QEJS/divergent+mammalian+arps2+cropped.jpg Science - What are the germline functions of divergent cytoskeletal proteins in mammals? Mammals encode divergent Arps and tubulins that are predominantly expressed in the testis, yet their functions are completely unknown. Do mammalian ‘testis’ cytoskeletal proteins also localize to the cytoskeleton and play roles in and beyond the male germline similar to Drosophila Arps? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1626658839824-Z6R4368H4ET44484W8JG/ana_colorblind+friendly2.jpg Science - How do divergent cytoskeletal proteins in flies and mammals impact cytoskeletal biochemistry? Since the ability to polymerize underpins many of actin and microtubule functions, we are testing the polymerizing capability of divergent ‘testis’ cytoskeletal proteins and investigating their interactions with canonical actin and tubulin to determine how structural divergence impacts cytoskeletal dynamics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1626657856264-WI5QE9QRSEJH7GCP2Z7B/testis%2Bto%2Bcancer%2Bimage2.jpg Science - How do abnormally expressed testis cytoskeletal proteins promote cancer cell survival in humans? Reproductive proteins are often misexpressed in many cancer types and can confer a selective advantage in the tumor cell. A subset of these misexpressed proteins are divergent cytoskeletal proteins that are normally restricted to the testis. We are studying how these proteins may equip cancer cells with a survival advantage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1626187100040-TEUKS2ITWX77AWRBG9BJ/utsw+logo.png Science - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1626186714790-ABNKCAHFDKWEPBI0782K/CPRIT-Logo-web-VERT-color.png Science - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1626186959799-FVAMYSUQ7A1NVAE25JBN/NIGMS+logo.jpeg Science - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce435d6bea1ed00016ba287/1558964652247-5MWXNMFZVOPGE4TY6U2Q/MHeiderich_ReflexionenZwei-05-copy.jpg Science https://www.theschroederlab.org/publications daily 0.75 2025-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce435d6bea1ed00016ba287/1558964652247-5MWXNMFZVOPGE4TY6U2Q/MHeiderich_ReflexionenZwei-05-copy.jpg Publications https://www.theschroederlab.org/join daily 0.75 2024-04-02 https://www.theschroederlab.org/contact daily 0.75 2023-12-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce435d6bea1ed00016ba287/1558964652247-5MWXNMFZVOPGE4TY6U2Q/MHeiderich_ReflexionenZwei-05-copy.jpg Contact https://www.theschroederlab.org/news daily 0.75 2025-10-15 https://www.theschroederlab.org/resources daily 0.75 2021-07-13 https://www.theschroederlab.org/labfun daily 0.75 2024-03-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/f2234f3d-a7dc-4bfa-b298-672edb01a1b9/IMG_5431.jpeg Lab Fun The lab is 1 year old! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/9eecbc7d-60cf-4ea1-b06b-980cbd12ab73/IMG_5480.jpeg Lab Fun Celebrating the lab's 1 year birthday with bowling https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/8efa6a6b-615e-412c-80f6-b86067033c9d/IMG_20230808_104611241_cropped.jpeg Lab Fun Group pic following Jossie's presentation on her summer research project. Sad to see her go! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/af5b7f1f-2887-4bed-9455-d1c4ef819c51/matching+fly+shirts2.jpg Lab Fun Showing off their shared love of flies https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/f414e306-b9be-4947-84a0-cb6b49739a60/B63A6E69-ABE3-4E92-B500-6C897C07BDE1.jpeg Lab Fun https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/dd66df47-75f6-4658-aa48-290689b41766/IMG_5479.jpeg Lab Fun https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/644b42e1-7c9b-4180-8ef0-9c7100b26d8e/Jossie%27s+poster_SURF.jpg Lab Fun Jossie presenting her poster on Arp53D's role in female flies https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/cd6b0c37-7c80-4423-a79c-ec7bc854778e/Pumpkins+2023.jpg Lab Fun The department's inaugural pumpkin carving contest, organized by the Schroeder lab https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/e7900f36-c03b-4499-9699-a3fcff659db1/CC62FE8D-935E-4A1B-BF0B-92582F4D4A85.jpeg Lab Fun https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/5aa350f6-0cd3-4bcf-816f-36ae70e0f572/IMG_5468.jpeg Lab Fun https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/0c750030-4cdf-483f-85c5-4a241f22683d/IMG_6275.jpg Lab Fun Lab lunch, celebrating all the things: the lab's first paper, Ricky's fellowship, and Nuria joining the lab! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/e5265e17-ada2-4761-ace4-52ba410acddd/IMG_6262.jpg Lab Fun Schroeder lab pumpkin! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/91a3cd27-1d7f-4de9-b4ef-9851f2c24c77/IMG_5427.jpeg Lab Fun https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/eaa7fe4e-905a-4f76-a18f-1d6590905b26/IMG_5458.jpeg Lab Fun https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/46a83c03-02a5-401e-a65d-a6d382bb8b82/lab+pic+copy.jpg Lab Fun Lab lunch with our first PhD students--welcome Kaitlin & Ricky! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/68dbc309-1fcd-48ef-abb0-12e13ffa9055/pumpkins2+2023.jpg Lab Fun https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/dcc43689-5073-4da8-a66d-79101a19e567/IMG_5429.jpeg Lab Fun https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/d43370f7-a1f5-41cc-a90e-bd40d36c3632/IMG_5456.jpeg Lab Fun https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/2861f853-1118-4233-80ab-f33abd6b446d/Jordan%27s+talk+at+ASCB.jpg Lab Fun Jordan presented her work at the 2024 TAGC meeting in DC! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/5fe4a5d9-6dd1-4798-b763-ee3e6e51a366/IMG_5432.jpeg Lab Fun Celebrating the lab birthday and Halloween https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/a9a2d8ca-b5d7-4fce-a73c-2ff0a5d3a5d5/IMG_5448.jpeg Lab Fun https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/3838705b-2e42-4114-8302-dbf4fdbb3501/IMG_6574.jpeg Lab Fun Saying goodbye to Jordan and Nikki before they head to grad school! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/e44e977c-ddbe-41cb-bcdc-37c6c352acf9/IMG_5428.jpeg Lab Fun https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/e49e45a6-8e08-408f-974b-207e42ddd76f/IMG_6570.jpeg Lab Fun Their farewell presents--crocheted fruit flies and a cell--all made by Kaitlin! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/4c8941b8-2e0f-40b9-9898-07688717f729/Sebastian+presenting.jpg Lab Fun Sebastian presenting his summer research https://www.theschroederlab.org/team daily 0.75 2025-10-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/a998cbb6-1e0b-4889-a9c5-ef881cafda68/Coats_211217_9648+cropped.jpeg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/21d21401-494b-455e-baef-d6c78c06aedf/Richard+Chen_08162021_ND_1134.jpg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/35b6871a-ace3-45ef-973d-ee141acce308/C43BAE83-DB61-4A6D-AD8A-79F7CD0904AB_1_105_c.jpeg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/e30c3343-ad02-4df2-8d87-8e8313bbdc2d/Nuria_photo.jpeg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/e57d7eef-91ff-4de0-b5a6-93146537f6e4/IMG_0989_cropped_tristan.JPG Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/f62d7a25-68a2-4917-adf6-2d2deb9e561d/Lab+pic.jpg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/937aa494-d3f0-452a-a4b3-8015b9bab5a8/nikki.jpeg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/a541bfbc-aa16-4e24-86b1-f72087aa92fd/spalafox+photo.jpg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/fb0f3665-3d75-4938-843d-f7768e49c226/Sebastian+2.jpeg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/3f6960a7-5eb4-456f-9958-d299721f8833/Jordan.jpg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/d3a2dffe-95c4-4dfe-b484-48b19f0f3e53/Lahiri+2.jpg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/3991aa6a-093f-4396-a1a6-4df48c939b82/Sahiti.jpeg Team https://www.theschroederlab.org/work-1 daily 1.0 2021-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1625785390031-8EYE8FQYOGP0DOBVL0QU/Arp53D%2Blocalizes%2Bat%2Bthe%2Bleading%2Bedge%2Bof%2Bactin%2Bcones.jpg Home Probing the polymerization dynamics of divergent cytoskeletal proteins https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1625839807147-13S50CD5NLIBHPAJSKLM/Composite_6_eusperm.tif%252B%252528RGB%252529.jpg Home Functionally studying non-canonical cytoskeletal proteins in diverse species (image: D. pseudoobscura sperm maturation) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/fc36517e-25b0-4c68-8e1e-f1109f2f927e/TEM2.001.jpeg Home Viewing the consequences of divergent cytoskeletal proteins at high resolution (image of developing sperm tails from Stephen MacFarlane, Fred Hutch Cellular Imaging  Shared  Resource) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1626210450245-67IVZV8XRFBERU3T1K43/tree.001.jpg Home Unearthing recent diversification of cytoskeletal proteins using evolutionary analyses https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/26250989-6f13-4d43-bd43-e252554399be/structure2.png Home Leveraging structural biology to pinpoint hot spots of diversification in cytoskeletal structures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1625785729440-BBR5J7H2YX4YLDZPJ703/Arp53D%2Blocalizes%2Bto%2Bthe%2Bfusome%2Bin%2Belongating%2Bsperm.jpg Home Studying the impact of divergent cytoskeletal proteins on germline actin structures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/eccdb9f0-5e48-4b72-9415-e288f568569f/IMG_1811.jpeg Home Using fly genetics to study cytoskeletal function at the organismal level https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1625839822626-GVS1DTVRZR3ZQ7OXQ9PS/elongating%252Bsperm.001.jpg Home Functionally studying non-canonical cytoskeletal proteins in diverse species (image: D. pseudoobscura sperm maturation) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1625785442657-A3AC7WC3O5ZEJ7235KC8/MAX_Stack%2B0035%2Bdna.jpg Home Investigating the roles of divergent cytoskeletal proteins in development https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/c7145e82-ee14-46e7-8d58-b61e9e0c93ca/ovary2.jpg Home Investigating the surprising functions of 'testis' Arps in female fertility https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1626034788743-B01IUM75Z86RRO00G30O/wt%2Bsperm.jpg Home Going from the tissue level, to the cell level (like sperm here) to the protein level to ask what are the functional consequences of cytoskeletal diversification https://www.theschroederlab.org/work-1/project-four-2kjrh monthly 0.5 2021-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1626223605965-FWVUKEOVJAYWIIPXGLW4/tree+with+scale.png Home - Evolution - Evolution We are always on the lookout for unexpected divergent cytoskeletal proteins. We leverage evolutionary analyses to identify gene family expansions and accelerated amino acid changes (positive selection) across phyla, and we then explore the functional consequences of this evolutionary adaptation at the level of proteins, cells, tissues, and whole organisms. https://www.theschroederlab.org/work-1/project-two-99m34 monthly 0.5 2021-07-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1626126197583-RMCMXS29TE45OFK6G6GX/MAX_Stack+0035+dna.jpg Home - Development - Development Despite having extremely high expression in the male germline, we have found that one divergent actin-related protein is important in Drosophila embryonic development. We are currently investigating whether other divergent ‘testis’ Arps are also playing critical roles beyond the male germline. Learn more here: An actin-related protein that is most highly expressed in Drosophila testes is critical for embryonic development https://www.theschroederlab.org/work-1/project-three-ggm38 monthly 0.5 2021-07-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1626656345283-7TYMDONBKQ4RQ7DGMZXF/ana_colorblind+friendly2.jpg Home - Cancer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.theschroederlab.org/work-1/project-one-nw6en monthly 0.5 2021-07-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60e7735c2594d1494b1445b7/1626125926518-L01N7EPRYXMQMKPMWFP6/Arp53D+localizes+at+the+leading+edge+of+actin+cones.jpg Home - Germline biology - Germline Biology Divergent (or non-canonical) cytoskeletal proteins are found in flies and mammals, yet this dramatic adaptation has been largely ignored. Interestingly, they are highly enriched in expression in the male germline. We have found that several divergent actin-related proteins (Arps) localize to unique actin structures that are critical in sperm maturation. Our current studies are investigating what roles these proteins play at these structures and how they impact actin polymerization. Learn more from our two papers below: A Burst of Genetic Innovation in Drosophila Actin-Related Proteins for Testis-Specific Function An actin-related protein that is most highly expressed in Drosophila testes is critical for embryonic development