Biophysical Society Bulletin | June 2023

Biophysicist in Profile

After cloning and sequencing the ncd gene, I collaborated with a colleague, Steve Henikoff , to discover the identity of the protein. Steve, at the time, had been obtaining new DNA database releases as they came out to search for homolo gous DNA sequences, as this was not only before the genome sequencing projects, but also before the establishment and widespread accessibility of the current DNA databases. Steve found the homology of the Ncd protein to the microtubule motor protein kinesin-1, which had just been deposited into the DNA database. This was exciting because we knew that Ncd had a role in division and mitosis workers at the time were searching for the anaphase A motor—Ncd did not turn out to be the long-sought anaphase A motor (we and others are still looking!!), but the findings that we made with collab orators since discovering that Ncd is a kinesin motor protein have been highly informative about the role of motor proteins in division,” Endow explains. “One collaborator, Ted Salmon at nearby [University of North Carolina], Chapel Hill, was highly important in establishing that Ncd was a microtubule motor protein that moved to microtubule minus ends, in contrast to kinesin-1, which is a plus-end-directed microtubule motor protein. These find ings were reported at a Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, which led to my meeting other workers in the motors field. My laboratory then became involved in further studies using biophysical methods with collaborators that include Keiko Hirose , Hideo Higuchi , and Hee-Won Park . An especially reward ing aspect of working in the motors field, given my Japanese ancestry, has been meeting the leading motors biophysicists from Japan.” Endow is currently a Full Professor of Cell Biology at Duke University. “Our present work is to uncover the kinesin motor mechanism of function using mutants and structural studies. We are currently collaborating with Ryo Nitta-san and Tsuy oshi Imasaki-san at Kobe University on structural studies of a kinesin-14 mutant by cryo-EM,” she reports. “Another project in which we are very involved is to adapt a kinesin-14 motor into a tension sensor to measure loads across the motor in the spindle—this is being done in collaboration with Dr. Brent Hoffman at Duke University.” In addition to her research, Endow has contributed to the field through outreach, including working on many projects during

her time as a member of the BPS Education Committee. “I have been very fortunate to have the Biophysical Society as a collaborator in STEM outreach that I use as ‘Broader Impacts’ for [a National Science Foundation] Grant Award. This came about through my membership on the BPS Education Com mittee and attendance at an Annual Meeting where I noticed the small wooden microscopes that were being distributed by Echo Labs as a vendor giveaway. I took one home and thought they would be ideal for STEM outreach in light microscopy, so I emailed the company and asked if they would make a gift to the Biophysical Society of the wooden microscope kits that the Education Committee could use for outreach.” She adds, “Together with Chroma Technology Corp., Echo Labs made a gift of 500 kits to the Society in 2016 that the BPS and So ciety members have been using for outreach in the USA and around the globe since then. The wooden microscopes can be assembled in 15–20 minutes from the kits, and young people of all ages become enthralled in building the microscopes and using them. The small microscopes have only a single lens that is not corrected for chromatic aberration, but they pro duce amazing images using a cell phone camera to illuminate and magnify the specimens.” Endow shares that her experience as a member of the Bio physical Society has been special due to the connections with scientists in her field, often fostered by Subgroup member ship, and because of the personal connections made with the Society’s small staff: “I recall arriving at a meeting in Singa pore and being greeted by a hug from Ro Kampman , then Ex ecutive Officer of BPS. Imagine traveling halfway around the world and being warmly greeted by the Biophysical Society Executive Officer in a foreign country! Attending the Annual Meeting and seeing the Society staff is like being welcomed as friends by the staff. I regard the Society as fortunate in having staff that help make the office run so smoothly (at least from the perspective of a BPS Member!). The Biophys ical Society is also fortunate in having as Executive Officer Jennifer Pesanelli , who effectively guides the Society in its new ventures. An example of a new venture that has had a large positive impact is the President’s Black in Biophysics Sym posium at the recent Annual Meeting. The newly launched Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources for Society mem bers also promises to have a large positive impact.”

Numbers By the

The Primarily Undergraduate Institution (PUI) Network is currently composed of 786 BPS members.

June 2023

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