Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · Biomedical EngineeringHancock Lab
William Olaf Hancock · University Park, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. William Hancock's lab focuses on understanding how tiny motor proteins, called kinesin and dynein, transport materials within cells, especially in neurons. They study the molecular mechanics of this transport system which is crucial for neuron function and is affected in diseases like Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s. The lab also investigates how microtubules, the structures that support this transport, grow and shrink, which is essential for cell division and neuron development.
bidirectional transportkinesindyneinmicrotubulesneurodegenerative diseasescell divisionneurogenesismolecular mechanics
Research Aims
5AIM 01Uncover the molecular mechanisms of bidirectional transport by kinesin and dynein.
AIM 02Characterize the load-dependent properties of kinesin and dynein motors.
AIM 03Visualize the reversible binding kinetics of tubulin to microtubule ends.
AIM 04Investigate how binding proteins affect motor properties and microtubule dynamics.
AIM 05Establish the link between microtubule dynamics and neurodegenerative disease pathology.
Skills the Lab Values
single-molecule trackingDNA origamimicrotubule manipulationprotein purificationstochastic modelinghigh-resolution imagingnanoparticle labelingimmunofluorescencecell culture
Output against the department
Publications253top 38% of dept.228th of 595
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations6.3kbottom 48% of dept.311th of 595
this lab
most citedleast cited
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