Keith Burridge
Encyclopedia
Keith Burridge is a British-born researcher and Kenan distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
. His research on focal adhesions includes the discovery of many adhesion proteins including vinculin
, talin and paxillin
,
and ranks him in top 1% of the most cited scientist in the field of molecular biology and genetics. Dr. Burridge has published more than 170 peer reviewed articles.
. He obtained his undergraduate degree in 1971 from the University of Cambridge
, and then completed his Ph.D. in Dennis Bray
’s laboratory in the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB), also in Cambridge, in 1975. Using biochemical techniques, he showed that at least two distinct types of myosin
II exist in non-muscle cells and that some cells expressed both types.
’s laboratory at Cold Spring Harbor where he met Elias Lazarides. They decided to compile their work on α-actinin and showed that α-actinin is distributed periodically along stress fibers. They also noted that there was a concentration of α-actinin in plaques at the ends of stress fibers. Since these regions would several years later be named focal adhesions, α-actinin was the first protein found to be concentrated at these sites. While developing a procedure to purify α-actinin from smooth muscle, Burridge co-purified another protein, vinculin, independently of Benny Geiger’s discovery.
In 1981 Burridge left Cold Spring Harbor Lab for a faculty position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, where he continued to work on focal adhesions. He discovered talin (protein) as another focal adhesion
protein and then, in collaboration with Rick Horwitz’s laboratory, showed that talin (protein) bound to the cytoplasmic domains of integrins. He then discovered other focal adhesion
components including paxillin
and contributed to the discovery of zyxin
and palladin
. Since then his work has focused on the signaling pathways emanating from focal adhesions, including RhoA
-mediated contractility and tyrosine phosphorylation in response to adhesion.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. His research on focal adhesions includes the discovery of many adhesion proteins including vinculin
Vinculin
In mammalian cells, vinculin is a membrane-cytoskeletal protein in focal adhesion plaques that is involved in linkage of integrin adhesion molecules to the actin cytoskeleton...
, talin and paxillin
Paxillin
Paxillin is a signal transduction adaptor protein discovered in 1990 in the laboratory of Keith Burridge and should not be confused with the neurotoxin paxilline. The C-terminal region of paxillin contains four LIM domains that target paxillin to focal adhesions, it is presumed through a direct...
,
and ranks him in top 1% of the most cited scientist in the field of molecular biology and genetics. Dr. Burridge has published more than 170 peer reviewed articles.
Early life and education
He was born in 1950 in Dorset, EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He obtained his undergraduate degree in 1971 from the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, and then completed his Ph.D. in Dennis Bray
Dennis Bray
Dennis Bray is an active emeritus professor at University of Cambridge. His group is also part of the Oxford Centre for Integrative Systems Biology...
’s laboratory in the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB), also in Cambridge, in 1975. Using biochemical techniques, he showed that at least two distinct types of myosin
Myosin
Myosins comprise a family of ATP-dependent motor proteins and are best known for their role in muscle contraction and their involvement in a wide range of other eukaryotic motility processes. They are responsible for actin-based motility. The term was originally used to describe a group of similar...
II exist in non-muscle cells and that some cells expressed both types.
Focal adhesion research
He went as a postdoc to James D. WatsonJames D. Watson
James Dewey Watson is an American molecular biologist, geneticist, and zoologist, best known as one of the co-discoverers of the structure of DNA in 1953 with Francis Crick...
’s laboratory at Cold Spring Harbor where he met Elias Lazarides. They decided to compile their work on α-actinin and showed that α-actinin is distributed periodically along stress fibers. They also noted that there was a concentration of α-actinin in plaques at the ends of stress fibers. Since these regions would several years later be named focal adhesions, α-actinin was the first protein found to be concentrated at these sites. While developing a procedure to purify α-actinin from smooth muscle, Burridge co-purified another protein, vinculin, independently of Benny Geiger’s discovery.
In 1981 Burridge left Cold Spring Harbor Lab for a faculty position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, where he continued to work on focal adhesions. He discovered talin (protein) as another focal adhesion
Focal adhesion
In cell biology, focal adhesions are specific types of large macromolecular assemblies through which both mechanical force and regulatory signals are transmitted. More precisely, they can be considered as sub-cellular macromolecules that mediate the regulatory effects In cell biology, focal...
protein and then, in collaboration with Rick Horwitz’s laboratory, showed that talin (protein) bound to the cytoplasmic domains of integrins. He then discovered other focal adhesion
Focal adhesion
In cell biology, focal adhesions are specific types of large macromolecular assemblies through which both mechanical force and regulatory signals are transmitted. More precisely, they can be considered as sub-cellular macromolecules that mediate the regulatory effects In cell biology, focal...
components including paxillin
Paxillin
Paxillin is a signal transduction adaptor protein discovered in 1990 in the laboratory of Keith Burridge and should not be confused with the neurotoxin paxilline. The C-terminal region of paxillin contains four LIM domains that target paxillin to focal adhesions, it is presumed through a direct...
and contributed to the discovery of zyxin
Zyxin
Zyxin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ZYX gene.-Interactions:Zyxin has been shown to interact with ENAH, LASP1, LATS1, Actinin, alpha 1 and Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein.-External links:* Info with links in the...
and palladin
Palladin
Palladin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PALLD gene. Palladin is a component of actin-containing microfilaments that control cell shape, adhesion, and contraction.- Discovery :...
. Since then his work has focused on the signaling pathways emanating from focal adhesions, including RhoA
RHOA
Ras homolog gene family, member A is a small GTPase protein known to regulate the actin cytoskeleton in the formation of stress fibers. In humans, it is encoded by the gene RHOA....
-mediated contractility and tyrosine phosphorylation in response to adhesion.
Distinction and awards
- 1988 Hettleman Prize.
- 2002 Freshman Medical Student Teaching Award, UNC School of Medicine.
- 2003 Kenan Distinguished Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology.
- 2003 Hyman Battle Medical Student Teaching Award.