Prof Charles Lindemann Publishes Article in Focus Issue About Cilia and Flagella

Scientific journals sometimes publish special issues organized around a single important topic. The Journal of Cell Science recently published a “minifocus” on cilia and flagella (February 15, 2010, Volume 123, Issue 4). In its introduction, the journal provides an outline:

“Cilia and flagella are highly conserved organelles that have diverse roles in eukaryotic cells. The recent discovery that several diseases (collectively known as ciliopathies) are caused by defects in the structure, function and/or associated signalling pathways of these organelles has led to renewed interest in their biology. This issue's Minifocus includes a collection of articles that review several important topics in this area. Peter Satir and colleagues provide an overview of the primary cilium in a Cell Science at a Glance poster article (p. 499), and Scott Seely and Maxence Nachury review the mechanisms by which the primary cilium is assembled and disassembled (p. 511). Sensory functions were previously attributed mainly to nonmotile primary cilia rather than to motile cilia; however, as discussed by Robert Bloodgood in an Opinion article (p. 505), sensory functions for motile cilia have in fact been documented throughout the past century. More recently, the mechanics that enable beating of motile cilia and flagella have been uncovered and, on page 519, Charles Lindemann and Kathleen Lesich consider this new evidence and discuss how axonemal dynein coordination might operate. Finally, David Engman and colleagues shed light on the mechanisms by which proteins and lipids are transported to ciliary membranes (p. 529).”

As mentioned above, Charles Lindemann, of the Department of Biological Sciences, and research technician Kathleen Lesich, have an article in this issue reviewing “Flagellar and Ciliar Beating: The Proven and the Possible”. This is a topic Lindemann has made fundamental contributions to over the past decades. A recent article in the OU Magazine describes Lindemann’s research. His laboratory has a long history of support from the National Science Foundation.