David R. Sherwood, Jerry G. and Patricia Crawford Hubbard Professor  

David R. Sherwood

The Sherwood lab is interested in understanding mechanisms that drive dynamic cellular behaviors underlying normal development and human disease. We study 1) How cells invade into tissues, 2) How stem cells interact with their niches, and 3) How cells control and interact with extracellular matrix. Our lab primarily examines C. elegans development, in which simple cellular complexity, amenability to genetics/genomics/transgenics/molecular perturbations, and evolutionary comparisons facilitates powerful insights. One particular emphasis of our work is live-cell imaging, where we watch cellular behaviors and cell-extracellular matrix interactions unfold in real-time to understand their regulation and function.  Cell invasion, stem cell regulation, and cell-matrix interactions are fundamental to development, regeneration, cancer, and aging.  Our work aims to advance our understanding of these fascinating processes and positively influence human health.

Education:
Ph.D., Duke University, 1997
Postdoctoral Fellowship, California Institute of Technology, 1999
B.A., Wesleyan University, 1990

Office Location: Box 90338, Department of Biology, Durham, NC 27708
Email Address: david.sherwood@duke.edu
Web Page: http://sites.duke.edu/sherwoodlab

Specialties:
Cell and Molecular Biology
Developmental Biology
Genetics

Research Categories: Understanding morphogenetic mechanisms in development

Research Description: Our research is directed at elucidating mechanisms underlying morphogenetic processes in development. We primarily use the model system C. elegans in our research, and combine powerful genetic and systems biology approaches with live-cell imaging to address three main topics: 

  •  Tissue Remodeling and Connection
A major focus of the lab is the understanding of mechanisms underlying uterine-vulval attachment. A key aspect of this process is the invasion of a single uterine cell, the anchor cell, through the uterine and vulval basement membranes, which initiates uterine-vulval connection. The ability of cells to invade through basement membrane is crucial for many developmental processes and remains one of the least understood aspects in the progression of cancer. We have begun to apply what we learn in the anchor cell to better understand how cancer cells become invasive. Our group also examines other aspects of uterine-vulval attachment, including control of cell division, cell-cell signaling, cell-cell attachments and basement membrane remodeling. 
  • Stem Cell-Niche Interactions
We are examining the cell biological aspects of cell-cell and cell-basement membrane establishment of the germ stem cell niche. We are particularly interested in how somatic and germ cells interact to maintain the germ stem cells. We have made the surprising discovery that germ cells that escape their niche appear capable of inducing naïve somatic cells to take on the role of the niche cells. We are conducting screens and performing live-cell imaging studies to understand this novel behavior.

  • Nutritional Regulation of Late Larval Development 
In collaboration with Dr. Ryan Baugh's lab, we are examining the developmental response of late larvae to starvation. We have identified specific developmental checkpoints that larvae enter in response to the absence of food. These studies have many fascinating implications in our understanding of how cells arrest at specific developmental time-points, how an organism and cells enter and exit quiescent states, and how these impinge on life-span. 

Members of our group are trained in a diverse range of scientific approaches and join a vibrant scientific community at Duke University, the Research Triangle region and the worldwide group of worm researchers.

Areas of Interest:
Cell Biology
Developmental Biology
Morphogenesis
Cancer

Recent Publications   (More Publications)   (search)

  1. Srinivasan, S; Ramos-Lewis, W; Morais, MRPT; Chi, Q; Soh, AWJ; Williams, E; Lennon, R; Sherwood, DR, A complete collagen IV fluorophore knock-in toolkit reveals α-chain diversity in basement membrane, in Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (December, 2024) [doi] .
  2. Stramer, BM; Sherwood, DR, Basement membrane dynamics in living animals: Insights and pitfalls., The Journal of cell biology, vol. 223 no. 7 (July, 2024), pp. e202402113 [doi]  [abs].
  3. Kenny-Ganzert, IW; Sherwood, DR, The C. elegans anchor cell: A model to elucidate mechanisms underlying invasion through basement membrane., Seminars in cell & developmental biology, vol. 154 no. Pt A (February, 2024), pp. 23-34 [doi]  [abs].
  4. Park, K; Garde, A; Thendral, S; Soh, A; Chi, Q; Sherwood, D, De novo lipid synthesis and polarized prenylation drives cell invasion through basement membrane, in bioRxiv, vol. 223 no. 10 (2024), pp. e202402035, Rockefeller University Press [doi]  [abs].
  5. Park, K; Jayadev, R; Payne, SG; Kenny-Ganzert, IW; Chi, Q; Costa, DS; Ramos-Lewis, W; Thendral, SB; Sherwood, DR, Reciprocal discoidin domain receptor signaling strengthens integrin adhesion to connect adjacent tissues., in eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd, vol. 12 (July, 2023), eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd [doi]  [abs].