Brian Hercyk, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Fellow
Hometown: Ponca City, OK
Education:
B.S. Biological Science, 2012, Oklahoma State University
Ph.D. Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, 2019, University of Tennessee
Areas of Interest
Cytoskeleton, Cell signalling, RhoA, Mechanotransduction, YAP/TAZ, and Optogenetics. My current research aims to i) elucidate the mechanisms by which YAP/TAZ-mediated mechanotransduction regulates the GTPase RhoA to control endothelial cell morphology and motility, and ii) determine how feedback from RhoA signaling modifies YAP/TAZ and the response to subsequent mechanical stimuli.
Brian joined McKay Orthopedic Research Lab in fall 2020 and is working towards completing his post-doc work. Brian is an avid reader, fisher, woodworker, and chess player.
Publications:
- Brian S. Hercyk and Maitreyi E Das. (2019) F-BAR Cdc15 Promotes Gef1-mediated Cdc42 Activation During Cytokinesis and Cell Polarization in S. pombe. Genetics 213(4) 1341-1356. doi: https://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.119.302649
- Brian S. Hercyk, Julie T. Rich-Robinson, Ahmad S. Mitoubsi, Marcus A. Harrell, Maitreyi E. Das. (2019) A novel interplay between GEFs orchestrates Cdc42 activity during cell polarity and cytokinesis. J Cell Sci 132: doi: 10.1242/jcs.236018 * Highlighted in preLights
- Brian S. Hercyk, Udo N. Onwubiko, Maitreyi E. (2019) Coordinating Septum Formation and the Actomyosin Ring during Cytokinesis in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Molecular Microbiology doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/mmi.14387
- Brian S. Hercyk and Maitreyi E. Das. (2019) Rho Family GTPases in Fission Yeast Cytokinesis. Communicative and Integrative Biology. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/19420889.2019.1678453
- Wei B, Hercyk, BS, Habiyaremye J, Das M. (2017) Spatiotemporal Analysis of Cytokinetic Events in Fission Yeast. J Vis Exp. (120) e55109 doi: 10.3791/55109
- Wei, B, Hercyk, BS, Mattson, N, Mohammadi, A., Rich, J, DeBruyne, E, Clark, MM, and Das, M. (2016) Unique spatiotemporal activation pattern of Cdc42 by Gef1 and Scd1 promotes different events during cytokinesis. Mol Biol Cell 27(8); 1235-1245. doi: 10.3791/55109 * Highlighted in InCites
- Wang Y, Hercyk, BS, Shin HS, Chen R, Jha AK, Yang M. (2014) The role for CYCLIN A1;2/TARDY ASYNCHRONOUS MEIOSIS in differentiated cells in Arabidopsis. Plant Mol. Biol. 85(1-2):81- 94. doi: 10.1007/s11103-013-0170-9
- not peer reviewed: (2019) First person – Brian Hercyk. Journal of Cell Science 132: jcs241984 doi: 10.1242/jcs.241984
Conference Abstracts and Presentations:
Selected Talks
- International Fission Yeast Meeting 2019—Barcelona, Spain—“Cdc42 inactivation during cytokinesisvpermits proper membrane barrier formation in S. pombe.”
- Plant and Microbial Cytoskeleton 2018—Gordon Research Conference—Andover, NH—“Crosstalk between the Cdc42 GEFs Gef1 and Scd1 during cytokinesis provide insights into cell polarization in S. pombe.”
- Triangle Cytoskeleton Meeting 2017—Saxapaha, NC—“Crosstalk between the Cdc42 GEFs Gef1 and Scd1 comprise a signaling network that coordinates sequential cytokinetic events.”
- International Fission Yeast Meeting 2017—Banff, Canada—“Cytokinetic events are spatiotemporally organized by a gradient of active Cdc42.”
- Annual BCMB Retreat 2017—Knoxville, TN—“Ordering cell division: multiple Cdc42 regulators organize cytokinetic events.”
- Comparative and Experimental Medicine Research Symposium 2016—Knoxville, TN— “Spatiotemporal regulation of Cdc42 coordinates cytokinetic events in S. pombe.”
Abstracts/Posters
- American Society for Cell Biology 2018—San Diego, CA—“Crosstalk between the Cdc42 GEFs Gef1 and Scd1 comprise a signaling network that coordinates sequential cytokinetic events.”
- Triangle Cytoskeleton Meeting 2018—Saxapaha, NC—“Crosstalk between the Cdc42 GEFs Gef1 and Scd1 during cytokinesis provide insights into cell polarization in S. pombe.”
- Cell Dynamics Symposium 2018—Nashville, TN—Crosstalk between the GEFs Gef1 and Scd1 establishes a spatiotemporal pattern of Cdc42 activation to promote distinct cytokinetic events in S. pombe.
- American Society for Cell Biology 2017—Philadelphia, PA—“Crosstalk between the Cdc42 GEFs Gef1 and Scd1 comprise a signaling network that coordinates sequential cytokinetic events.”
- American Society for Cell Biology 2016—San Francisco CA—“Cytokinetic events are spatiotemporally organized by a gradient of active Cdc42.”
- Cell Dynamics Symposium 2016—Nashville, TN—“Gradient of active Cdc42 temporally organizes cytokinetic events in fission yeast.”
- Cynthia B Peterson Poster Competition 2016—Knoxville, TN—“The Cdc42 GEF Scd1 regulates septum formation during cytokinesis in S. pombe.”
Awards:
Chancellor’s Fellowship, 2014-2018
GSS Research Excellence Award, 2017