David Kovar

Cells regulate actin filament assembly to drive a wide range of fundamental cellular processes such as division and motility. The focus of our research group is to determine the biochemical mechanisms that govern how fission yeast and the nematode worm coordinate actin assembly. We utilize interdisciplinary approaches in and out of live cells including genetics, fluorescence microscopy, biochemistry, biophysics and innovative single actin filament imaging assays.

Cells regulate actin filament assembly to drive a wide range of fundamental cellular processes such as division and motility. The focus of our research group is to determine the biochemical mechanisms that govern how fission yeast and the nematode worm coordinate actin assembly. We utilize interdisciplinary approaches in and out of live cells including genetics, fluorescence microscopy, biochemistry, biophysics and innovative single actin filament imaging assays.

Rizvi, S.A., Neidt, E.M., Cui, J., Feiger, Z., Skau, C.T., Gardel, M.L., Kozmin, S.A., and D.R. Kovar. 2009. identification and Characterization of a small molecule inhibitor of formin-mediated actin assembly. Chem. Biol. In press. 

Skau, C.T., Neidt, E.M. and D.R. Kovar. 2009. Role of tropomyosin in formin-mediated contractile ring assembly in fission yeast. Mol. Biol. Cell. 20, 2160-73. 

Neidt, E.M., Scott, B.J. and D.R. Kovar. 2009. Formin differentially utilizes profilin isoforms to rapidly assemble actin filaments. J. Biol. Chem. 284, 673-84. 

Neidt, E.M., Skau, C.T. and D.R. Kovar. 2008. The cytokinesis formins from the nematode worm and fission yeast differentially mediated actin filament assembly. J. Biol. Chem. 283, 23872-83. 

Kovar, D.R. Molecular details of formin-mediated actin assembly. 2006. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 18, 11-17. 

Rizvi, S.A., Neidt, E.M., Cui, J., Feiger, Z., Skau, C.T., Gardel, M.L., Kozmin, S.A., and D.R. Kovar. 2009. identification and Characterization of a small molecule inhibitor of formin-mediated actin assembly. Chem. Biol. In press. 

Skau, C.T., Neidt, E.M. and D.R. Kovar. 2009. Role of tropomyosin in formin-mediated contractile ring assembly in fission yeast. Mol. Biol. Cell. 20, 2160-73. 

Neidt, E.M., Scott, B.J. and D.R. Kovar. 2009. Formin differentially utilizes profilin isoforms to rapidly assemble actin filaments. J. Biol. Chem. 284, 673-84. 

Neidt, E.M., Skau, C.T. and D.R. Kovar. 2008. The cytokinesis formins from the nematode worm and fission yeast differentially mediated actin filament assembly. J. Biol. Chem. 283, 23872-83. 

Kovar, D.R. Molecular details of formin-mediated actin assembly. 2006. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 18, 11-17.