About the McKenney Lab
Led by Richard McKenney, PhD, the McKenney Lab at University of California, Davis is interested in the fascinating world of molecular movement. In particular, the Lab focuses on the microtubule cytoskeleton and the motor proteins that use this filament system for transport (kinesins and dyneins). The Lab is interested in allosteric regulation of motor protein movement, how motor activity is balanced and coordinated, and how dysfunction in motor activity leads to human diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration. They combine advanced molecular biology, biochemistry and single-molecule TIRF microscopy to address these problems. The McKenney Lab has long collaborated with KIF1A.ORG, and characterizes under-researched KIF1A mutations to identify how mutations impact KIF1A gene function and hypothesize therapeutic approaches.
