Tail Anchored Membrane Protein SLMAP Guides MTOC Dynamics in developing tissue

Dr. Balwant Tuana, Professor and Director of the Grad Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa. Wednesday, April 22, 9:00 am. Oborowsky Seminar Hall (1-040 LKS)

18 April 2026

Speaker: Dr. Balwant Tuana

Professor and Director of the Grad Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa

Hosted by Dr. Marek Michalak

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026. 9:00 - 10:00 am

Location: Oborowsky Seminar Hall (1-040 LKS)

Abstract: SLMAP is a tail anchored membrane protein that can reside at subcellular organelles including the ER, Mitochondria, Nuclear Envelope. Structural elements in SLMAP can also target the Centrosome/MTOC. SLMAP is a key component of STRIPAK - Kinase/PP2A complex believed to regulate Hippo signalling and cell proliferation. With genetically engineered in vivo and cell model systems we have discovered that SLMAP is critical for organizing the MTOC and subcellular membranes in organogenesis and tissue formation.