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Alenka Lovy-Wheeler, Ph.D.

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Research Interests

I am interested in the formation and maintenance of cellular microdomains, and how these specialized regions control cell behavior. I am especially interested in the cytoskeleton, and hope to collaborate with faculty in the Neuroscience Department to study living cells using novel microscopy techniques.

Currently, I am seeking collaborations within the Tufts/NEMC community (primarily the Neuroscience Department) to pursue microscopy-related research.

Previous Research

My interest in cytoskeletal microdomains was sparked in Dr. Peter Hepler’s laboratory, where we studied lily pollen tubes as a model system. By plunge-freezing the pollen tubes in liquid propane, we were able to preserve a cortical actin structure that was otherwise destroyed by conventional chemical fixation methods (see 3D image below).

The actin fringe is constantly renewed to keep up with the fast and oscillating pollen tube growth rate (0.2µm/sec).

The movie to the left shows a simultaneous visual and sonic representation of pH changes and growth rate in a lily pollen tube. The three percussion sounds you will hear are maximal pH, maximal growth rate, and minimal pH. For more information please follow this link.

If actin polymerization rates oscillate, this could explain the rhythmic movement of organelles that move along the actin such as the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and the vacuole.

Selected Publications

Lovy-Wheeler, A. Kunkel, J.G., Cardenas, L. and P.K. Hepler. 2007. Differential organelle movement along the actin cytoskeleton. Cell Motil Cytoskeleton 64:217-32

Lovy-Wheeler, A., Kunkel, J.G. and P.K. Hepler. 2006. Oscillatory increases in alkalinity anticipate growth and may regulate actin dynamics in pollen tubes of lily. Plant Cell 18:1-12 (Plant Cell First published on August 18, 2006; 10.1105/tpc.106.044867)

Wilsen, K., Lovy-Wheeler, A., Voigt, B., Menzel, D.,  Kunkel, J., and P.K. Hepler. 2006. Imaging the actin cytoskeleton in growing pollen tubes. Sex Plant Reprod 19:51-62.

Hepler, P.K., Lovy-Wheeler, A., McKenna, S.T., Kunkel, J.G.; 2006.; Ions and pollen tube growth.  In: The Pollen Tube; a series on Plant Cell Monographs edited by Rui Malhó.  Vol3:47-69.

Cardenas, L., Lovy-Wheeler, A. Wilsen, KL., and Peter Hepler. 2005.  Actin polymerization promotes the reversal of streaming in the apex of pollen tubes.  Cell Motil Cytoskeleton. 61:112-27.

Lovy-Wheeler, A., Wilsen, LK., Baskin, TI, and Peter Hepler. 2005. Enhanced fixation reveals the apical; cortical fringe of actin filaments as a consistent feature of the pollen tube. Planta. 221:95-104.

Wheeler AL, Long RM, Ketchum RE, Rithner CD, Williams RM, Croteau R. 2001. Taxol biosynthesis: differential transformations of taxadien-5 alpha-ol and its acetate ester by cytochrome P450 hydroxylases from Taxus suspension cells.  Arch Biochem Biophys. 390: 265-78.