Conventional actins play a role in nearly all cellular processes, but many organisms also contain divergent actins with some degree of sequence variance. The unicellular green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii contains two actin genes: IDA5, a conventional actin that is 89% homologous to rabbit skeletal muscle actin; and NAP1,a divergent actin with only about 65% homology to conventional actin. In my work, I'm seeking to identify the distinct functions of these two actins through biochemical approaches, as well as in the Chlamydomonas cell. Specifically, I'm looking at the Arp2/3 complex, an actin nucleator composed of seven distinct subunits, and how it interacts with both IDA5 and NAP1 to perform cellular functions including ciliary assembly and maintenance and endocytosis.
Publications
Zhang, N.; Pazouki, L.; Nguyen, H.; Jacobshagen, S.; Bigge, B.M.; Xia, M.; Mattoon, E.M.; Klebanovych, A.; Sorkin, M.; Nusinow, D.A.; Avasthi, P.; Czymmek, K.J.; Zhang, R. "Comparative Phenotyping of Two Commonly Used Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Background Strains: CC-1690 (21gr) and CC-5325 (The CLiP Mutant Library Background)." Plants 2022, 11, 585. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11050585
Bigge, B.M., Rosenthal, N.E., Sept, D., Schroeder, C.M., Avasthi, P. “Initial ciliary assembly in Chlamydomonas requires Arp2/3-dependent recruitment from a ciliary protein reservoir in the plasma membrane.” BioRxiv. 2021. doi.org/10.1101/2020.11.24.396002.
Craig, E. W., Mueller, D. M., Bigge, B. M., Schaffer, M., Engel, B.D., Avasthi, P. (2019). "The elusive actin cytoskeleton of a green alga expressing both conventional and divergent actins." Mol Biol Cell: mbc.E19-03-0141.
Bigge, B.M., Rosenthal, N.E., Sept, D., Schroeder, C.M., Avasthi, P. “Initial ciliary assembly in Chlamydomonas requires Arp2/3-dependent recruitment from a ciliary protein reservoir in the plasma membrane.” BioRxiv. 2021. doi.org/10.1101/2020.11.24.396002.
Craig, E. W., Mueller, D. M., Bigge, B. M., Schaffer, M., Engel, B.D., Avasthi, P. (2019). "The elusive actin cytoskeleton of a green alga expressing both conventional and divergent actins." Mol Biol Cell: mbc.E19-03-0141.
Conferences
Graduate:
Undergraduate:
- Bigge, B.M., Avasthi, P. “An Arp2/3 complex and endocytosis-dependent mechanism for lithium-induced ciliary elongation.” Dartmouth College Molecular and Cell Biology Recruitment 2022. December 2021. Virtual. (Poster).
- Bigge, B.M., Avasthi, P. “An Arp2/3 complex and endocytosis-dependent mechanism for lithium-induced ciliary elongation.” Cell Bio 2021. December 2021. Virtual. (Poster).
- Bigge, B.M., Avasthi, P. “Arp2/3-dependent actin networks in ciliary protein delivery in Chlamydomonas.” Cell Bio 2021. December 2021. Virtual. (Poster).
- Bigge, B.M., Avasthi, P. “Arp2/3-dependent actin networks in ciliary protein delivery in Chlamydomonas.” Triangle Cytoskeleton Meeting. September 2021. Virtual. (Poster). Award for top poster.
- Bigge, B.M., Avasthi, P. “Arp2/3-dependent actin networks in ciliary protein delivery in Chlamydomonas.” Dartmouth College Molecular and Cell Biology Annual Retreat. August 2021. (Poster).
- Bigge, B.M., Avasthi, P. “Arp2/3-dependent actin networks in ciliary protein delivery in Chlamydomonas.” Dartmouth College Molecular and Cell Biology Research in Progress Seminar. April 2021. Virtual. (Oral Presentation).
- Bigge, B.M., Avasthi, P. “Novel roles for Arp2/3-mediated actin networks in ciliary assembly and in endocytosis-dependent gamete activation in Chlamydomonas.” Dartmouth College Molecular and Cell Biology Recruitment. April 2021. Virtual. (Poster).
- Bigge, B.M. “Arp2/3-dependent actin networks in ciliary protein delivery in Chlamydomonas.” BSCB GenSoc UK Cilia Network e-Symposium. January 2021. Virtual. (Oral Presentation).
- Bigge, B.M., Avasthi, P. “Internalization Of Membrane Adhesion Proteins During Mating In Chlamydomonas Occurs Through Actin And Arp2/3 Dependent Endocytic Mechanisms” Cell Bio 2020. December 2020. Virtual. (Poster).
- Bigge, B.M., Avasthi, P. “Arp2/3 Nucleated Actin Networks Are Required For Ciliary Assembly In Chlamydomonas” Cell Bio 2020. December 2020. Virtual. (Poster).
- Bigge, B.M., Sept, D., Schroeder, C.M., Avasthi, P. “Conventional and divergent actin networks mediated by Arp2/3 in endocytosis, higher order actin structures, and cilia in Chlamydomonas” Dartmouth College Molecular and Cell Biology Retreat. August 2020. Virtual. (Poster). Award for being in the Top 3 posters.
- Bigge, B.M., Sept, D., Schroeder, C., Avasthi, P. "Arp2/3 nucleates conventional and divergent actin networks in Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii" Stowers Developmental Cell Biology Conference. April 2020. Kansas City, MO. (Poster, Cancelled due to COVID-19)
- Bigge, B.M., Sept, D., Schroeder, C., Avasthi, P. "Arp2/3 nucleates conventional and divergent actin networks in Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii" KUMC Student Research Forum (SRF). March 2020. Kansas City, KS. (Oral Presentation, Cancelled due to COVID-19)
- Bigge, B.M., Sept, D., Schroeder, C., Avasthi, P. "Arp2/3 nucleates conventional and divergent actin networks in Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii" Chicago Cytoskeleton Meeting. March 2020. Chicago, IL. (Poster, Cancelled due to COVID-19)
- Bigge, B.M., Avasthi, P. "Arp2/3-mediated branched actin networks play a role in ciliary assembly and maintenance in Chlamydomonas" American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB). December 2019. Washington D.C. (Oral Presentation)
- Bigge, B.M., Sept, D., Schroeder, C., Avasthi, P. "Arp2/3 nucleates conventional and divergent actin networks in Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii" American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB). December 2019. Washington D.C. (Poster)
- Turkowitch, D., Bigge, B.M., Craig, E.W., Avasthi, P. "Assembly of Divergent Actin Rings in Chlamyodonas is both formin and arp2/3 dependent but myosin indepent." American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB). December 2019. Washington D.C. (Poster)
- Salberg, A., Bigge, B.M., Craig, E. W., Avasthi, P. "Novel actin ring structure in vegetative Chlamydomonas cells plays a potential role in nuclear integrity." American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB). December 2019. Washington D.C. (Poster)
- Bigge, B.M., Sept, D., Avasthi, P. "Arp2/3 can nucleate filaments of a divergent actin with few conserved Arp2/3 binding residues" KUMC Student Research Forum (SRF). March 2019. Kansas City, KS. (Oral Presentation)
- Bigge, B.M., Sept, D., Avasthi, P. "Arp2/3 can nucleate filaments of a divergent actin with few conserved Arp2/3 binding residues" American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB). December 2018. San Diego, CA. (Poster)
Undergraduate:
- Bigge, B.M., Kadarla, K., Beck, M.R. "Myopalladin's Role in Cardiac Muscle Function and Disease" Kansas Idea Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (K-INBRE) Symposium. January 2017. Manhattan, KS. (Poster)
- Bigge, B.M., Kadarla, K., Beck, M.R. "Myopalladin's Role in Cardiac Muscle Function and Disease" Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum (URCAF). 2017. Wichita, KS. (Poster)