Dr Jenny Gallop’s group investigates Signalling to the Actin Cytoskeleton, the system of filaments that governs cell shape, movement, and force generation during development and disease. Her work centers on the cell membrane, where signaling lipids, particularly phosphoinositides, precisely control actin assembly. Using innovative cell-free systems (phospholipid bilayers and frog egg extracts) combined with in vivo models (fruit flies, frog embryos, and human cell lines), her team deciphers the molecular events driving actin rearrangements. A major focus is filopodia formation and the mechanism of PI3K signaling to actin.
Dr Jenny Gallop: Group Leader | Signalling to the Actin Cytoskeleton
Introduction and Research Niche
Dr. Jenny Gallop leads a dynamic research program at the intersection of molecular cell biology and biophysics, focused on deciphering the complex mechanisms of Signalling to the Actin Cytoskeleton. This filament system is the physical engine of the cell, responsible for movement, shape change, and exerting force on surrounding tissues—processes essential for embryonic development, wound healing, and immune response. When regulation of the actin cytoskeleton is disrupted, it contributes to severe pathologies, including cancer metastasis, intellectual disability, and kidney dysfunction.
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The Gallop Group specializes in the precise control exerted by the cell membrane over actin rearrangements. They employ a powerful combination of cell-free systems (using phospholipid bilayers and frog egg extracts) to isolate and reconstitute molecular events, allowing them to pinpoint how signaling lipids and proteins, like SNX9 and TOCA-1, integrate membrane composition, curvature, and signaling pathways to control the actin assembly process.
Graduate Research Opportunities (For Prospective Applicants)
The Gallop Group offers exciting opportunities for graduate students to apply molecular and biophysical techniques to medically relevant problems in cell biology. Research projects typically fall into these three thematic streams:
1. Research Stream: Molecular Mechanisms of Filopodia Formation
Filopodia are the small, finger-like protrusions driven by actin bundles that cells use to sense their environment and move. Understanding how they form is central to Dr. Gallop’s work on Signalling to the Actin Cytoskeleton.
- Topics: Investigating the complete molecular machinery required for filopodia biogenesis, including the roles of density-dependent protein interactions (e.g., Ena-TOCA-1) and the mechanism of the actin filament’s open-to-closed D-loop conformational switch as a length determinant of filopodia-like bundles.
2. Research Stream: Cell Membrane and Lipid Coincidence Sensing
The cell membrane acts as the critical platform for initiating signal transmission. This stream uses innovative cell-free systems to dissect the role of membrane chemistry and geometry.
- Topics: Elucidating how the coincidence of phosphoinositides (signaling lipids) and high membrane curvature selectively recruit actin regulators (such as TOCA-1 and SNX9) to switch the mode of actin polymerization. Analyzing how membrane composition affects the dynamics of SNX9-mediated actin polymerization.
3. Interdisciplinary Focus: PI3K Signaling and Therapeutic Intervention in Disease
This translational stream applies fundamental discoveries to disease models, specifically focusing on actin dysregulation in nephropathies and cancer.
- Topics: Detailed investigation of the mechanisms of PI3K signaling to actin—a pathway frequently dysregulated in disease. Testing novel therapeutic strategies, such as how specific PI3K inhibitors (like alpelisib) can restore actin organization and improve proximal tubule dysfunction in cell culture and mouse models of inherited kidney diseases (e.g., Lowe syndrome and Dent disease).
Key Awards and Professional Roles
| Detail | Role / Status | Institution / Body |
|---|---|---|
| Group Leader | Leading Researcher in Cell Mechanics | University of Cambridge |
| Research Focus | Actin Dynamics and Membrane-Cytoskeletal Interface | Molecular and Cellular Biology |
| Methodological Expertise | Development of Cell-Free Reconstitution Systems | Biophysics and Biochemistry |
| Translational Impact | Focus on Kidney Dysfunction and Cancer Research | Medical and Health Sciences |
Selected Publications
Journal Article (2025): “Membrane composition and curvature in SNX9-mediated actin polymerization.” Mol Biol Cell.
Journal Article (2024): “The actin filament open to closed D-loop conformational switch as a length determinant of filopodia-like actin bundles.” Biochem J.
Journal Article (2024): “Filopodial protrusion driven by density-dependent Ena-TOCA-1 interactions.” J Cell Sci.
Journal Article (2020): “The phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor alpelisib restores actin organization and improves proximal tubule dysfunction in vitro and in a mouse model of Lowe syndrome and Dent disease.” Kidney Int.
Contact Information
Prospective students interested in supervision should reach out via the following channels:
| Detail | Content |
|---|---|
| Email Address
|
jlg50@cam.ac.uk |
| University Profile Page | Link to official University faculty page |
Supervisory Ethos
Dr Gallop promotes an energetic, collaborative, and hands-on supervisory style. The lab is committed to training students in a rigorous scientific methodology, emphasizing the combination of quantitative imaging, biochemistry, and model organism genetics. Successful candidates will be curious about how cells build and move, possess strong problem-solving skills, and be excited by the challenge of translating fundamental molecular discoveries into insights relevant to human disease. The environment is supportive, diverse, and encourages scientific independence from the outset, ensuring every student becomes a confident leader in the field of Signalling to the Actin Cytoskeleton.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the actin cytoskeleton and why is its regulation important?
The actin cytoskeleton is a dynamic network of protein filaments that determines cell shape, drives cell movement, and generates mechanical force. Its precise regulation is critical for essential biological processes like embryonic development, and its dysregulation is linked to many diseases, including cancer cell mobility (metastasis).
2. What is the “cell-free system” approach used in the lab?
The lab uses cell-free systems (like purified proteins and artificial phospholipid membranes or frog egg extracts) to remove cellular complexity. This allows them to precisely control and reconstitute specific molecular interactions, such as how a lipid and a protein complex trigger actin polymerization in isolation.
3. What is PI3K signaling and how does it relate to actin?
PI3K (Phosphoinositide 3-kinase) signaling is a major pathway that controls cell growth and survival. It generates specific signaling lipids (phosphoinositides) in the cell membrane. Dr. Gallop’s work shows these lipids act as crucial signals that recruit regulatory proteins to control the assembly of the actin network.
4. What are filopodia and why are they studied?
Filopodia are thin, dynamic, finger-like protrusions that act as a cell’s sensory antennae, helping it explore and navigate its environment. Understanding their formation is essential to understanding how cells move during development and how they improperly migrate during disease.
5. What model systems are used in the Gallop Group?
The lab combines the precision of cell-free systems with the context of in vivo models, specifically using cultured human cells, developing frog embryos, and the genetic tractability of fruit flies (Drosophila).
6. Is this research translational?
Yes. By understanding the molecular basis of actin dysregulation in diseases like Lowe syndrome and Dent disease, the lab identifies molecular targets. For instance, they demonstrated that a specific PI3K inhibitor (alpelisib) could restore proper actin function in models of these kidney disorders.
7. What is the significance of membrane curvature in this research?
Membrane curvature is a physical cue that dictates where specific proteins should bind. The lab has shown that certain actin regulators only bind when a coincidence of both specific signaling lipids and high membrane curvature is present, making the membrane geometry a key regulatory element for Signalling to the Actin Cytoskeleton.
8. What kind of student background is considered ideal?
An ideal candidate has a strong foundation in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, or Biophysics. Experience with quantitative microscopy, protein purification, or advanced molecular cloning is highly beneficial.
9. What advanced techniques would a PhD student learn?
Students gain expertise in advanced techniques including the assembly of cell-free reconstitution assays, quantitative live-cell imaging, molecular genetics in model organisms, and high-resolution protein analysis.
10. How does the lab handle collaboration?
The Gallop Group actively collaborates, as shown by publications with specialists in biochemistry (Dobson), biophysics (Danuser), and clinicians (Devuyst), providing students with a broad and interdisciplinary research training experience.
