Dr. E. H. Ball
Professor
Department of Biochemistry
University of Western Ontario
Canada
Biography
"Dr. E. H. Ball received his Ph.D. Western University, he is a Professor Biochemistry at the University of Western Ontario, Canada. "
Research Interest
My research involves the study of the structure, function, and regulation of vinculin and its cousin, metavinculin. These molecules are intracellular cytoskeletal proteins that form part of cell-cell junctions and of cellular contacts with the extracellular matrix. Vinculin is found in most cells, while metavinculin is muscle specific. Both proteins interact with several cytoskeletal and signalling proteins and change conformation to link signal transduction to structural events. Mutations in these proteins can cause hereditary diseases, notably cardiomyopathies. Vinculin is also used by some bacteria for motility during infection. My lab uses molecular methods to study vinculin structure, conformational changes, and protein interactions. Our research will lead to further understanding of vinculin and metavinculin's roles in normal cell processes, such as cell adhesion and movement, as well as in diseased states, such as cardiomyopathies.
Publications
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Miller GJ, Ball EH. Conformational change in the vinculin C-terminal depends on a critical histidine residue (His-906). Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2001 Aug 3;276(31):28829-34.
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Arp J, Kirchhof MG, Baroja ML, Nazarian SH, Chau TA, Strathdee CA, Ball EH, Madrenas J. Regulation of T-cell activation by phosphodiesterase 4B2 requires its dynamic redistribution during immunological synapse formation. Molecular and cellular biology. 2003 Nov 15;23(22):8042-57.
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Christie DA, Lemke CD, Elias IM, Chau LA, Kirchhof MG, Li B, Ball EH, Dunn SD, Hatch GM, Madrenas J. Stomatin-like protein 2 binds cardiolipin and regulates mitochondrial biogenesis and function. Molecular and cellular biology. 2011 Sep 15;31(18):3845-56.
