Myosins are evolutionarily conserved motor proteins that carry out a myriad of cellular functions. Using quantitative proteomics (Kelley et al., bioRxiv 2017) and reverse genetics, we identified an auxin-regulated Class VIII myosin, ATM1, that is required for hypocotyl elongation (Olatunji & Kelley 2020) and root growth (Olatunji et al., 2023). ATM1 is a plasmodesmal protein that is required for sugar-dependent growth in both shoots and roots.
As part of an NSF funded grant, we are currently investigating the molecular function of ATM1 using genetics, live-cell microscopy, and proteomic approaches in collaboration with Justin Walley and Tessa Burch-Smith (NSF MCB Award No. 2419621).