Gillian Fitz
Carleton College
Matt Tyska Lab
Our lab studies actin-based microvilli, which line the intestine of the gut to form the brush border. Microvilli are responsible for the uptake of nutrients and also act as a line of defense against pathogens. They are arranged in a densely packed array of uniform length, and my project focuses on the role of motor proteins, specifically myosins, in regulating the length of these actin protrusions.