Biology Department Faculty

*Dr. Burgess is no longer accepting trainees.

Our laboratory’s research is in a sub-area of cell biology. Specifically, we are interested in how cells change shape or form and how that is precisely regulated using the cytoskeleton. Molecular motors using cytoskeletal tracks are required for such intracellular movements as cytokinesis, endocytosis, exocytosis, axonal transport, and organellar movement in general. Although motors are required, many relatively basic questions are unanswered. Our laboratory is now focusing on the study of how microtubule asters translocate in cells and position such structures as sperm asters and mitotic spindles.  Using micromanipulation, advanced imaging, reverse genetics, as well as biochemical approaches in dividing echinoderm and ascidian eggs, we are analyzing how the fertilizing sperm aster migrates in the egg after fertilization and subsequently captures the female pronuceus. We actively collaborate with other scientists around the world, including mathematical modelers, advanced imaging specialists, and experts at using eggs of marine animals.  We share a laboratory with other scientists working on cell motility and cell division at the Marine Biological Laboratory during the summer months. 

• Meaders JL, Burgess DR., Microtubule-Based Mechanisms of Pronuclear Positioning. Cells. 2020 Feb 23;9(2)PubMed PMID: 32102180; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7072840.
• Meaders, JL, de Matos SN, Burgess DR. 2020.  A Pushing Mechanism for Microtubule Aster Positioning in a Large Cell Type. Cell Reports. Vol 33, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108213
• Costache, V., Hebras, C., Pruliere, G., Besnardeau, L., Failla, M., Copley, R., Burgess, D., Chenevert, J., and McDougall, A. 2017. Kif2 localizes to a subdomain of cortical endoplasmic reticulum that drives asymmetric spindle position. Nature Comm. 8, 917.
• Bennett, M., J. Meaders, S. Ruvolo, D. Burgess. 2017. Labeling membrane domains in dividing echinoderm eggs. In: Methods in Cell Biology: Cytokinesis.  A. Echard, Ed.  pp.  1-12.
• Moorhouse, K., H, Gudejko,  A. McDougall, and D.R. Burgess. 2015.  Influence of cell polarity on early development of the sea urchin embryo. Devel. Dynamics 244: 1469-1484.
• Moorhouse, K. and D. Burgess. 2014.  How to be at the right place at the right time: The importance of spindle positioning in embryos. Mol Reprod & Devel. 81: 884-895.
• Andrew G. Campbell, Michael J. Leibowitz, Sandra A. Murray, David Burgess, Wilfred F. Denetclaw, Franklin A. Carrero-Martinez, and David J. Asai. 2013. Partnered Research Experiences for Junior Faculty at Minority-Serving Institutions Enhance Professional Success. CBE Life Sci Educ 2013;12 394-402.
• Gudekjo, H., Alford L., and Burgess, D.R. 2012. Polar expansion during cytokinesis. Cytoskeleton 69:1000-1009.
  
• Atilgan, E., Burgess, D.R., and Chang, F. 2012. Localization of cytokinesis factors to the future cell division site by microtubule-dependent transport. Cytoskeleton 69: 973-982.
  
• Pollard, T.D., Burgess, D.R., and Mabuchi, I. 2012. Remembrance of Ray Rappaport, pioneer in the study of cytokinesis. Cytoskeleton 69:659-679.
• N. Minc, D. Burgess, and F. Chang.  2011.  Influence of cell geometry on division plane positioning. Cell, 144: 414-426. 
• Alford, L. M., Ng, M. M., and Burgess, D. R. 2009. Cell polarity emerges at first cleavage in sea urchin embryos. Developmental Biology 330(1): 12–20.
  
• Alford, L. M., and Burgess, D. R. 2008. Cytokinesis: a new lipid aboard the raft. Current Biology 18(19): R921–3.
• Burgess, D. R. 2008. Cytokinesis and the establishment of early embryonic cell polarity. Biochemical Society Transactions 36: 384–386.
  
• Burgess, D. R. 2007. Taking on that first faculty job. Nature 447: 1142.
• Burgess, D. R. 2005. Cytokinesis: new roles for myosin. Current Biology 15: R310–311.
• Burgess, D. R., and Chang, F. 2005. Site selection for the cleavage furrow at cytokinesis. Trends in Cell Biology 15: 156–162.
• Strickland, L. I., Donnelly, E. J., and Burgess, D. R. 2005. Induction of cytokinesis is independent of precisely regulated microtubule dynamics. Molecular Biology of the Cell 16: 4485–4494.
• Ng, M., Chang, F., and Burgess, D.R. 2005. Movement of membrane domains and requirement of membrane signaling molecules for cytokinesis. Developmental Cell. 9: 781–90.
  
• Strickland, L.I., Yen, Y., Gundersen, G.G., and Burgess, D. R. 2005. Interaction between EB1 and p150glued is required for anaphase astral microtubule elongation and stimulation of cytokinesis. Current Biology 15: 2249–2255.
• Strickland, L. I., and Burgess, D. R. 2004. Pathways for membrane trafficking during cytokinesis. Trends in Cell Biology 14: 115–118.
• Strickland, L., Von Dassow, G., Ellenberg, J., Foe, V., Lenart, P., and Burgess, D. R. 2004. Light Microscopy of Echinoderm Embryos. In: The Development of Invertebrate Deuterostomes: Experimental Approaches. A Volume in Methods in Cell Biology. Edited by: Ettensohn, C.A., Wray, G., and Wessel, G. M.
• Chang, F., and Burgess, D. 2003. The contractile ring. Current Biology 13: R692–R693.
• Shuster, C. B., and Burgess, D. R. 2002. Targeted new membrane addition in the cleavage furrow is a late, separate event in cytokinesis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 99: 3633–3638.
• Shuster, C. B., and Burgess, D. R. 2002. Transitions regulating the timing of cytokinesis in embryonic cells. Current Biology 12 (10): 854–858.
• Shuster, C. B., and Burgess, D. R. 1999. Parameters that specify the timing of cytokinesis. Journal of Cell Biology 146: 981–992.
• Stow, J. L., Fath, K. R., and Burgess, D. R. 1998. Budding roles for myosin II on the Golgi complex. Trends in Cell Biology 8: 138–141.
• Fath, K., Trimbur, G., and Burgess, D. R. 1997. Molecular motors and a spectrin matrix associate with Golgi membranes in vitro. Journal of Cell Biology 139: 1169–1181.
• Ikonen, E., deAlmeid, J.B., Fath, K. R., Burgess, D., Ashman, K., Simons, K., and Stow, J. L. 1997. Myosin II is associated with Golgi membranes: identification of p200 as nonmuscle myosin II on Golgi-derived vesicles. Journal of Cell Science 110: 2155–2164.
• Walker, G., Shuster, C. B., and Burgess, D. 1997. Microtubule-entrained kinase activities associated with the cortical cytoskeleton during cytokinesis. Journal of Cell Science 110: 1373–1386.
• Mamajiwalla, S. N., and Burgess, D. R. 1995. Differential regulation of the activity of 42kD mitogen activated protein kinase (p42 mapk) during enterocyte differentiation in vivo. Oncogene 11: 377–386.
• Fath, K. R., Trimbur, G., and Burgess, D. R. 1994. Molecular motors are differentially distributed on Golgi membranes from polarized epithelial cells. Journal of Cell Biology 126: 661–676.
• Walker, G., Kane, R., and Burgess, D. R. 1994. Isolation and characterization of a sea urchin zygote cortex which supports in vitro contraction and reactivation of furrowing. Journal of Cell Science 107: 2239–2248.
• Fath, K. R., and Burgess, D. R. 1994. Membrane motility mediated by unconventional myosin. Current Opinion in Cell Biology 6: 131–135.
• Fath, K. R., and Burgess, D. R. 1993. Golgi-derived vesicles from developing epithelial cells bind actin filaments and possess myosin-I as a cytoplasmically oriented peripheral membrane protein. Journal of Cell Biology 120: 117–127.
  
• Cartwright, C., Mamajiwalla, S., Eckhart, W., Skolnick, S. A., and Burgess, D. R. 1993. Intestinal crypt cells contain higher levels of cytoskeletal-associated pp60c-src protein tyrosine kinase activity than do differenciated enterocytes. Oncogene 8: 1033–1039.