Our new paper with Dr. Fowler’s lab shows that rod domain mutations, but not motor domain changes, in myosin IIA lead to changes in ocular lens epithelial cell and fiber cell organization and patterning. These new data add to our knowledge about how equatorial epithelial cells and fiber cells arrange into highly organized hexagon-shaped cells to ensure tight packing and to minimize light scattering. Check our new work here: Disease-related non-muscle myosin IIA D1424N rod domain mutation, but not R702C motor domain mutation, disrupts mouse ocular lens fiber cell alignment and hexagonal packing!
Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science (GEMS 2024)!
The 7th annual GEMS event was a great time! Our lab, in conjunction with the Indiana University School of Optometry, were able to help educate the young minds about eye health and how the eye functions! The kids were so excited at the event and so are we for next year’s GEMS!
Congratulations Jenna!
Dr. Peter Huynh Presents for Oxyopia
Last week, Dr. Huynh was the presenter for the Indiana University School of Optometry’s Oxyopia, a seminar whose purpose is to stimulate intellectual discourse among faculty and serve as a learning environment for the graduate students. His talk, titled “20,000 Leads Under the Sea: Lens Transparency and the Deadliest Cone”, provided new information from his research on the lens and also presented his doctoral work, repurposing cone snail venoms into therapeutic drugs. Great job with the engaging seminar!
International Conference on the Lens (ICL 2023)
At the end of 2023, Dr. Cheng and Dr. Huynh traveled to Hawaii and presented their work at the International Conference on the Lens! Everyone in attendance had great projects that we look forward to hearing about their progress next conference! Until then, check out Dr. Huynh receiving his NFER Young Investigator Travel Award below! ALOHA 2024!
Preparation and Immunofluorescence Staining of Bundles and Single Fiber Cells from the Cortex and Nucleus of the Lens
We are excited to share that our new article which details how to faithfully preserve and immunostain fiber cells from the lens nucleus region for imaging, with quality that can rival scanning electron microscopy! The video protocol is available through this link: Mouse Lens Dissection and Processing to Study Fiber Cell Interdigitations and Membrane Architecture.
Thanks a bunch for help throughout the video editing process: JoVE Video Production Team and Lorenzo Jackson II!
Happy Thanksgiving from the Cheng Lab!
We’re grateful for all the laughter, support, and learning that keeps the lab exciting! Thank you everyone!
Dr. Cheng’s Official Tenure Celebration
On September 27th, Dr. Cheng celebrated her achievement of tenure alongside Dr. Nicholas Port’s promotion to full professor. Thank you Dr. Rowan Candy for coming to celebrate! Congratulations to all those promoted this year!
Happy Birthday Gryffin!
We recently celebrated Gryffin’s birthday this October! If you look overhead, you can see that tequila begins the spooky season early!
ThermoFisher Pizza Party!
Thank you ThermoFisher for delivering some slices of fun! Not featured are the Mother Bear’s pizza boxes that we devoured before remembering to take a picture 🙂