Ph. D., University of Massachusetts, Amherst

   

Office:     541 Life Sciences Building

Phone:   1-419-372-8218

Email:     heckman@bgsu.edu

   

Research:

Cell biology; role of ruffling in growth control

   

Research and Personal Home Page

Basic molecules, processes, and structure notes--revised
If you're a student, refer to this list.

     

Research Interests:

Heckman's group has used quantitative microscopy, in conjunction with sophisticated classification methods, to describe properties of cancer cells that distinguish them from normal. Her laboratory demonstrated that a number of discrete features of cells can be discriminated among them features of the whole cell, such as rounding-up (factor 12) and ellipticity (factor 3), as well as specific features such as filopodia (factor 4), vesicle trafficking (factors 8, 11, and 13), and p21-activated (PAK)-dependent protrusions (factor 7). Such factors can be used in an equation to solve for the phenotype of oncogenically transformed cells. Thus, the approach serves as a bridge between molecular endpoints and behavioral properties of cells such as contact inhibition.

The first such feature to be studied in depth is factor 7. Since formation of this factor requires PAK binding to PAK-interacting exchange protein (PIX), it may be dependent on formation or turnover of focal contacts. Current studies have the objective of determining: 1) the process by which the PAK-dependent protrusions form and 2) what biochemically distinguishes these featured from other edge features such as lamellipodia and filopodia. This work is being done by combining shape analysis with the responses of the cells to overexpression of various Rho-family GTPases and their effectors.

In one of the laboratory's model systems, delivery of a phorbol ester tumor promoter causes cells to transiently adopt features of the transformed phenotype. This system is being exploited to learn how the activation of the chief target of the tumor promoter, protein kinase C, causes changes in cell adhesion, motility, and individual features related to the aggressive behavior of cancer cells.

Selected Publications:

Li, Y., J. M. Urban, M. L. Cayer, and C.A. Heckman. 2006. Actin-based features negatively regulated by protein kinase C-epsilon. Am. J. Physiology-Cell Physiol. (in press).

Bombuwala, K., T. Kinstle, V. Popik, S.O. Uppal, J.B. Olesen, J. Vina, and C.A. Heckman. 2006. Colchitaxel, a coupled compound made from microtubule inhibitors colchicine and paclitaxel. Beilstein J. Org. Chem. (in press).

Heckman, C.A., J.M. Urban, M.L. Cayer, Y. Li, N. Boudreau, J. Barnes, H.K. Plummer, III , J. Barnes, C. Hall, R. Kozma, and L. Lim. 2004. Novel p21-activated kinase-dependent protrusions characteristically formed at the edge of transformed cells. Exp. Cell Res. 295: 432-447.

Heckman, C.A., J.M. Urban, Y. Li, M.L. Cayer, and J.A. Barnes. 2002. Identification of Actin-Based Stress Fibers with a Morphometric Shape Factor. Microsc. Microanal. 8, (suppl. 2): 946-947CD.

Heckman, C.A. U.S. Patent Appl. 2002. "Method of Assaying Shape and Structural Features in Cells", Serial No. 10/109, 394, filed March 28.

Heckman, C.A., K. Bombuwala, V. Popik, T. Kinstle, W. Klis, and P. Erhardt. 2002. Morphometric Assay for Microtubule Inhibitor Combination Drug Effects, Era of Hope Dept. Defense Breast Cancer Res. Mtg., Sept. 27, Orlando. FL.

Heckman, C.A., C. S. Runyeon, J.G. Wade, and S. Seubert. Mathematical modeling of marker influx and efflux in cells. Bull. Math. Biol. 63: 431-449, 2001.

Heckman, C.A., H.K. Plummer III and R. Mukherjee. 2000. Enhancement of the transformed shape phenotype by microtubule inhibitors and reversal by an inhibitor combination. Int. J. Oncology 16: 709-723.

Heckman, C.A., and R.J. Jamasbi. 1999. Describing shape dynamics in transformed cells through latent factors. Exp. Cell Res. 246: 69-82.

Liu, W.S., C.A. Heckman. 1998. The seven-fold way of PKC regulation. Cell Signalling 10:529-542.

Heckman, C.A., J.B. Olesen, D.S. Love, J. Hasley, and T.S. Wales. 1997. Integration of a spatial map (SM) with transmission electron microscope (TEM) images of Drosophila polytene chromosome. J. Comp. Assist. Microsc. 9: 211-221 (CD-Rom issue).

Olesen, J.B., C.A. Heckman, A. Lukinius, D.W. Schwab, D.V. Upite and C.F. Fioravanti. 1997. HACH: A polymer designed to optimize antigen localization. Microsc. and Microanal. 3: 321-331.

Olesen, J.B., and C.A. Heckman. 1997. A 95 nm spacing in Drosophila polytene chromatin. Microsc. and Microanal. 3:311-320.

Heckman, C.A., H.K. Plummer III and C.S. Runyeon. 1996. Persistent effects of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA): Possible implication of vesicle traffic. J. Cell Physiol. 166: 217-230.