Dr. Gordon W. Laurie
is Associate Professor of Cell Biology and Director of the Biotechnology
Training Program at the University of Virginia. Centering on
how epithelial cells assemble and differentiate, Dr. Laurie's
lab utilizes vertebrate cell culture in morphogenesis and secretion
assays. Following from Dr. Laurie's early work on the molecular
organization of basement membranes, the polymeric gel which
all epithelial cells require for morphogenesis, the lab was
first to identify a short morphogenic site in the laminin-1
alpha chain as a key promoter of alveolar formation via its
cell adhesion, cell migration and MMP9 triggering activity.
Using secretion assays, the lab was also first to uncover a
basement membrane activity whose synergy with laminin-1 is required
for differentiation of the regulated secretory pathway; and
most recently a novel prosecretory mitogen 'lacritin' which
binds laminin and acts in a pertussis toxin-inhibitable and
calcium-dependent manner on a very restricted subset of glandular
epithelial cells to promote cell proliferation, secretion and
survival. This research attacks epithelial differentiation with
a fresh approach that together and individually has opened up
novel and exciting new areas of investigation.
