Dr. Yin’s research at UT Southwestern involves the study of the actin cytoskeleton which serves many essential functions. Actin polymerization drives membrane movements, and actin filaments assemble into a scaffold that supports the cells’ motors and signaling machinery. The scaffold is continually remodeled in proliferating cells, and is completely dismantled in apoptotic cells. Dr. Yin is studying how phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate (PIP2), a membrane lipid, regulates the actin scaffold in proliferating and apoptotic cells. She focuses on the lipid kinases that synthesize PIP2 and the regulatory proteins that respond to PIP2.
Her lab is currently pursuing the following projects:
-PIP2 regulates the actin cytoskeleton,vesicle transport, intracellular calcium signaling and apoptosis
-PI4P regulation of Golgi trafficking
-Effect of burn injury on PIP2 and PI4P homeostasis
