Research

Research in the Rogers lab is focused on understanding how cells organize their internal structure using a filamentous protein network called the microtubule cytoskeleton. Cells are tiny machines, each composed of thousands of parts such as organelles, protein complexes, and nucleic acids. Each of these components must be localized to the right place at the right time to perform their function. For example, neurons produce chemicals for intracellular communication into vesicles for transport along their axons (sometimes over distances of many meters) to the site of their eventual release. Mitochondria - organelles that synthesize much of the chemical energy used by cells - must be transported to sites of high energy demand within the cell. And, during cell division, mitotic chromosomes must be accurately segregated to each daughter cell so that each inherits a full copy of the genome. All of these examples of intracellular motility are mediated by motor proteins that walk along microtubules to deliver cargo to their proper destination. However, if these microtubule tracks are damaged or broken, then normal intracellular transport is interrupted, and this can be catastrophic to a cell. Neuronal communication may be inhibited, leading to neuronal degeneration, organelle transport may be disrupted, triggering cell death, and chromosomes may be mis-segregated, leading to cancer.

Our current research focuses on the mechanisms cells employ to maintain microtubule structure and organization under stress conditions that could potentially lead to damage or breakage. We are using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, to investigate the function of an enzyme, tubulin acetyltransferase (TAT), which covalently modifies microtubules, conferring mechanical reinforcement to enable cells to withstand chemical and physical stress. The fruit fly’s genetic capabilities make it an ideal model for this project. We generated mutants in Drosophila TAT and observed that in the absence of this enzyme, microtubules in the neurons of these affected animals are highly susceptible to breaking during normal movement. In the peripheral nervous system of TAT mutants, this breakage compromises their ability to sense mechanical forces, resulting in a loss of touch sensation, sound vibration detection, and effectively deafness, as well as impaired gravity perception. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that fruit fly cells lacking TAT exhibit increased susceptibility to chemical poisons known to be involved in carcinogenesis and potentially contribute to the onset of diabetes. TAT is an evolutionarily conserved gene, suggesting that understanding its function in a relatively simple organism such as fruit flies will provide crucial insights into its role in humans and the potential consequences of its malfunction, leading to a diverse range of diseases.

Training

Before coming to UNC, I attended graduate school at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where I received my PhD working with Vladimir Gelfand in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology. I next spent five years as a postdoctoral associate working with Ron Vale in the Dept. of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at UCSF.

Teaching

I currently teach two fall courses in the UNC Biology Department. BIOL4240 is an Introduction to Cell Biology, and BIOL590L is a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) entitled Diseases of the Cytoskeleton. In the CURE, students design and conduct experiments on outstanding research questions in cell biology using molecular biology, protein design, and quantitative cellular imaging.

Publications

Kim, S.K., Rogers, S.L., Lu, W., Gelfand, V.I. (2024) EB-SUN, a new microtubule plus-end tracking protein in Drosophila. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 35(12): ar147. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E24-09-0402.

Santos, C.V., Rogers, S.L., Carter, A.P. (2023) CryoET shows colfilactin filaments inside the microtubule lumen. EMBO Reports. 24(11):e57264. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiad446.

Buglak, D.B., Bougaran, P., Kulikauskas, M.R., Liu, L., Monaghan-Benson, E., Gold, A.L., Marvin, A.P., Burciu, A., Tanke, N.T., Oatley, M., Ricketts, S.N., Kinghorn, K., Johnson, B.N, Shiau, C.E., Rogers, S., Guilluy, C., and Victoria L Bautch, V.L. (2023) Nuclear SUN1 Stabilizes Endothelial Cell Junctions via Microtubules to Regulate Blood Vessel Formation. Elife. 2023 Mar 29;12:e83652. doi: 10.7554/eLife.83652.

Zhao, A.J., Montes-Laing, J., Perry, W.M.G., Shiratori, M., Merfeld, E., Rogers, S.L., Applewhite, D.A. (2022) The Drosophila spectraplakin Short stop regulates focal adhesion dynamics by cross-linking microtubules and actin. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 33(5):ar19. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E21-09-0434.

Luhur A., Mariyappa D., Klueg K.M., Rogers S.L., Zelhof A.C. (2021) Serum-free adapted Drosophila S2R+ line is amenable to RNA interference. MicroPublication Biology. 10.17912/micropub.biology.000362. doi: 10.17912 micropub.biology.000362.

Platenkamp, A., Detmar, E., Sepulveda, L., Ritz, A., Rogers, S.L., Applewhite, D.A. (2020) The Drosophila melanogaster Rab GAP RN-tre cross-talks with the Rho1 signaling pathway to regulate non-muscle myosin II localization and function. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 31(21):2379-2397. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E20-03-0181.

Coombes, C.E., Saunders, H.A., Johnson-Schlitz, D.M., Reid, T.A., Parmar, S., Rogers, S.L., Parrish, J.Z., Wildonger, J., and Gardner, M.K. (2020) Non-enzymatic Activity of the $\alpha$-Tubulin Acetyltransferase $\alpha$TAT Limits Synaptic Bouton Growth in Neurons. Current Biology. S0960-9822(19)31617-3.

Chai, F., Xu, W., Musoke, T., Tarabelsi, G., Assaad, S., Freedman, J., Peterson, R., Piotrowski, K., Byrnes, J., Rogers, S.L., Veraksa, A., (2019) Structure-function analysis of $\beta$-arrestin Kurtz reveals a critical role of receptor interactions in downregulation of GPCR signaling in vivo. Developmental Biology. 455:409-419.

Peters, K.A., Detmar, E., Sepulveda, L., Del Valle, C., Valsquier, R., Ritz, A., Rogers, S.L., Applewite, D.A. (2018) A cell-based assay to investigate non-muscle myosin II contractility via the Folded-gastrulation signaling pathway in Drosophila S2R+ cells. Journal of Visual Experimentation 138: http://www.jove.com/video/58325.

Yan, C., Wang, F., Peng, Y., Williams, C.R., Jenkins, B., Wildonger, J., Kim, H., Perr, J.B., Vaughan, J.C., Kern, M.E., Falvo, M.R., O’Brien, T., Superfine, R., Tuthill, J.C., Xiang, Y., Rogers, S.L., and Parrish, J.Z. (2018) Microtubule acetylation is required for mechanosensation in Drosophila. Cell Reports. 25: 1051-1065.e6.

Mino, R.E., Rogers, S.L., Risinger, A.L., Rohena, C., Banerjee, S., and Bhat, M.A. (2016) Drosophila Ringmaker regulates microtubule stabilization and axonal extension during embryonic development. Journal of Cell Science. 129: 3282-94.

Girdler, G.C., Applewhite, D.A., Rogers, S.L., and Röper, K. (2015) The Gas2 family protein Pigs is a +TIP microtubule tracker that affects cytoskeletal organization. Journal of Cell Science. 129:121-34.

Trogden, K.P. and Rogers, S.L. (2015) TOG Proteins Are Spatially Regulated by Rac-GSK3$\beta$ to Control Interphase Microtubule Dynamics. PLOS One. 10(9):e0138966.

Grode, K.D and Rogers, S.L. (2015) The non-catalytic domains of Drosophila katanin regulate its abundance and microtubule-disassembly activity in living cells. PLOS One. 10(4):e0123912.

Manning, A.J, and Rogers, S.L. (2014) The Fog signaling pathway: Insights into signaling in morphogenesis. Developmental Biology. 394:6-14.

Fox, J.N., Howard, A.E, Currie, J.D., Rogers S.L., and Slep, K.C. (2014) The XMAP215 family drives microtubule polymerization using a structurally diverse TOG array. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 25:2375-92.

Kushner, E.J., Ferro, L.S., Liu, J.Y., Durrant, J.R., Rogers, S.L., Dudley, A.C., and Bautch, V.L. (2014) Excess centrosomes disrupt endothelial cell migration via centrosome scattering. Journal of Cell Biology. 206:257-72.

Rogers, S.L. (2014) Short-circuiting microtubule plus and minus end proteins in spindle positioning. EMBO J. 33:96-8.

Montgomery, E.R., Temple, B.R.S., Peters, K.A., Tolbert, C.E., Booker, B.K., Martin, J.W., Hamilton, T.P., Smolski, W.C., Rogers, S.L., Jones, A.M., and Meigs. T.E. (2014) G$\alpha$12 structural determinants of Hsp90 interaction are necessary for Serum Response Element-mediated transcriptional activation. Molecular Pharmacology. 85:586-97.

Manning, A.J., Peters, K.A., Peifer, M., and Rogers, S.L. (2013) Regulation of epithelial morphogenesis by a G-protein coupled receptor, Mist, and its ligand, Fog. Science Signaling. 6:ra98.

Peters, K.A. and Rogers, S.L. (2013) Drosophila Ric-8 interacts with the G$\alpha$12/13 subunit, Concertina, during activation of the Folded gastrulation pathway. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 24:3460-71.

Applewhite, D.A., Grode, K.D., Duncan, M.C., and Rogers, S.L. (2013) The actin-microtubule cross-linking activity of Drosophila Short stop is regulated by intramolecular inhibition. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 24:2885-93.

Leano, J.B., Rogers, S.L., and Slep, K.C. (2013) A Cryptic TOG Domain with a Distinct Architecture Underlies CLASP-Dependent Bipolar Spindle Formation. Structure. 21:939-50.

Bosch, D.E., Kimple, A.J., Manning, A.J., Muller, R.E., Willard, F.S., Machius, M., Rogers, S.L., and Siderovski, D.P. (2012) Structural determinants of RGS-RhoGEF signaling critical to Entamoeba histolytica pathogenesis. Structure. 21:65-75.

Zhang, D., Grode, K.D., Stewman, S., Diaz, D., Liebling, E., Currie, J.D., Buster, D.W., Asenjo, A.B., Sosa, H.J., Ross, J., Ma, A., Rogers, S.L., and Sharp, D.J. (2011) Drosophila Katanin is a microtubule depolymerase that regulates cortical-microtubule plus end interactions and cell migration. Nature Cell Biology. 13:361-9.

Currie, J.D. and Rogers, S.L. (2011) D17-C3, a novel Drosophila melanogaster cell culture system for studying cell motility. Nature Protocols. 18:1632-41.

Currie, J.D., Stewman, S., Schimizzi, G., Slep, K.C., Ma, A., and Rogers, S.L. (2011) The microtubule lattice and plus-end association of Drosophila Mini spindles is spatially regulated to fine-tune microtubule dynamics. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 22:4343-61.

Banerjee, S., Blauth, K., Peters, K., Rogers, S.L., Fanning, A.S., and Bhat, M.A. (2010) Drosophila Neurexin IV interacts with Roundabout and is required for repulsive midline axon guidance. Journal of Neuroscience. 30: 5653-67.

Applewhite, D.A., Grode, K.D., Keller, D., Zadeh, A., Slep, K.C., and Rogers, S.L. (2010) The spectraplakin Short stop is an actin-microtubule crosslinker that contributes to organization of the microtubule network. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 21: 1714-24.

Schimizzi, G.V., Currie, J.D., and Rogers, S.L. (2010) Expression levels of a kinesin-13 microtubule depolymerase modulates the effectiveness of anti-microtubule agents. PLOS One. 5:e11381.

Taylor, S.M., Nevis, K.R., Park, H.L., Rogers, G.C., Rogers, S.L., Cook, J.G., and Bautch, V.L. (2010) Angiogenic factor signaling regulates centrosome duplication in endothelial cells of developing blood vessels. Blood. 116: 3108-17.

Wheeler, S.R., Banerjee, S., Blauth, K., Rogers, S.L., Bhat, M.A., and Crews, S.T. (2009) Neurexin IV and Wrapper interactions mediate Drosophila midline glial migration and axonal ensheathment. Development. 136: 1147-57.

Rogers, G.C., D.M. Roberts, N. Rusan, M. Peifer, and Rogers, S.L. (2009) The SCF-Slimb ubiquitin ligase regulates Plk4/Sak levels to block centriole duplication. The Journal of Cell Biology. 184: 241-252.

Spero, R.C., Vicci, L., Cribb, J., Bober, D., Swaminathan, V., O’Brien, E.T., Rogers, S.L., and Superfine, R. (2008) High throughput system for magnetic manipulation of cells, polymers, and biomaterials. Review of Scientific Instrumentation. 79: 083707.

Rogers, G.D., N.M. Rusan, M. Peifer, and Rogers, S.L. (2008) Identification of assembly factors that contribute to the formation of acentrosomal microtubule arrays in interphase Drosophila cells. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 19: 3163-78.

Rogers, S.L. and Rogers, G.C. (2008) Culture of Drosophila S2 cells and their use for RNAi-mediated loss-of-function studies and immunofluorescence microscopy. Nature Protocols. 3: 606-11.

Jiang, L., Rogers, S.L., and Crews, S.T. (2007) The Drosophila Dead end Arf-like 3 GTPase controls vesicle trafficking during tracheal fusion cell morphogenesis. Developmental Biology. 11: 487-99.

Ciavatta, D., Rogers, S.L., and Magnuson, T. (2007) Drosophila CTCF is required for Fab-8 enhancer blocking activity in S2 cells. Journal of Molecular Biology. 373:233-9.

Gates, J., J.P. Mahaffey, Rogers, S.L., Emerson, M., E.M., Rogers, E.M. Sottile, VanVactor, D., Gertler, F.B., and Peifer, M. (2007) Enabled plays key roles in embryonic epithelial morphogenesis in Drosophila. Development. 134: 2027-39.

Kim, H., S. Ling., Rogers, G.C., Kural, C., Selvin, P.R., Rogers, S.L., and Gelfand, V.I. (2007) Microtubule binding by dynactin is required for microtubule organization but not cargo transport. The Journal of Cell Biology. 176: 641-651.

Dean, S.O., Rogers, S.L., Stuurmann, N., Vale, R.D., and Spudich, J.A. (2005) Distinct pathways control the initial recruitment and the subsequent maintenance of myosin II at the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 102:13473-8.

Dzhindzhev, N., Rogers, S.L., Vale, R.D., and Ohkura, H. (2005) Distinct mechanisms govern the localization of Drosophila CLIP-190 to unattached kinetochores and microtubule plus ends. Journal of Cell Science. 118: 3781-90.

Slep, K.C., S.L. Rogers, S.L. Elliott, H. Ohkura, P.A. Kolodziej, and Vale, R.D. (2005) Structural determinants for EB1-mediated recruitment of APC and spectraplakins to the microtubule plus end. The Journal of Cell Biology. 168: 587-598.

Menella, V., G.C. Rogers, S.L. Rogers, D.W. Buster, R.D. Vale, and Sharp, D.J. (2005) Functionally distinct kinesin-13 family members cooperate to regulate microtubule dynamics during interphase. Nature Cell Biology. 7: 235-245.

Rogers, G.C., Rogers, S.L., and Sharp, D.J. (2005) Spindle microtubules in flux. Journal of Cell Science. 118: 1105-1116.

Barmchi, P.B., Rogers, S.L., and Hacker, U. (2005) DRhoGEF2 regulates actin organization and contractility in the Drosophila blastoderm embryo throughout morphogenesis in Drosophila. The Journal of Cell Biology. 168: 575-585.

Rogers, S.L., U. Weidemann, U. Hacker and Vale, R.D. (2004) Drosophila RhoGEF2 associates with microtubule plus ends in an EB1-dependent manner. Current Biology. 14: 1827-1833.

Rogers, G.C., Rogers, S.L., Schwimmer, T.A., Stubbert, J., Walczak, C.E., Vale, R.D., Scholey, J.M., and Sharp, D.J. (2004) Identification and characterization of three Kin I family members in Drosophila: evidence that mitosis in this system involves the coordinated action of functionally distinct classes of Kin I motors. Nature. 427: 364-370.

Rogers, S.L., U. Weidemann, N. Stuurman, and Vale, R.D. (2003) Molecular requirements for actin-based lamella formation in Drosophila S2 cells. The Journal of Cell Biology. 162: 1079-1088.

Rothenberg, M.E., Rogers, S.L., Vale, R.D., Jan, L.Y. and Jan, Y.N. (2003) Drosophila Pod-1 controls the targeting but not outgrowth of axons and cross-links both actin and microtubules. Neuron. 39:779-791.

Rogers, S.L., G.C. Rogers, D.J. Sharp, and Vale, R.D. (2002) Drosophila EB1 is essential for proper assembly, dynamics, and positioning of the mitotic spindle. The Journal of Cell Biology. 158:873-884.

Klopfenstein, D.R., R.D. Vale, and Rogers, S.L. (2001) Motor protein receptors: moonlighting on other jobs. Cell. 103: 537-540.

Reilein, A.R., Rogers, S.L., Tuma, C.T., and Gelfand, V.I. (2001) Regulation of organelle transport. International Review of Cytology and Cell Biology. 204: 179-238.

Rogers, S.L. and Gelfand, V.I. (2000) Membrane trafficking, organelle transport, and the cytoskeleton. Current Opinion in Cell Biology. 12: 57-62.

Rogers, S.L., R.L. Karcher, J.T. Roland, A.A. Minin, W. Steffen, and Gelfand, V.I. (1999) Regulation of melanosome movement in the cell cycle by reversible association with myosin V. The Journal of Cell Biology. 146: 1265-1276.

Szczesna-Skorupa, E., Chen, C.D., Rogers, S., and Kemper, B. (1998) Mobility of cytochrome p450 in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 95: 14793-14798.

Rogers, S.L., I.S. Tint, and Gelfand, V.I. (1998) In vitro motility assay for melanophore pigment organelles. Methods in Enzymology. 298: 361-372.

Rogers, S.L. and Gelfand, V.I. (1998) Myosin cooperates with microtubule motors during organelle transport in melanophores. Current Biology. 8: 161-164.

Rogers, S.L., I.S. Tint, P.C. Fanapour, and Gelfand, V.I. (1997) Regulated bidirectional motility of melanophore pigment granules along microtubules in vitro. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 94: 3720-3725.