The Structure of the Human Cell Cycle
A complete visualization of the human cell cycle is rendered by combining highly multiplexed single-cell imaging and manifold learning. Stallaert W, Kedziora KM, Taylor CD, Zikry TM, Ranek JS, Sobon HK, Taylor SR, Young CL, Cook JG, Purvis JE. The Structure of the Human Cell Cycle. (2021) Cell Systems Nov 17:S2405-4712(21)00418-X PMID: 34800361
The Cell Cycle Browser
We built an interactive web interface based on real-time reporter data collected in proliferating human cells. This tool facilitates visualizing, organizing, simulating, and predicting the outcomes of perturbing cell-cycle parameters. Borland D, Yi H, Grant GD, Kedziora KM, Chao HX, Haggerty RA, Kumar J, Wolff SC, Cook JG, Purvis JE. The Cell Cycle Browser: An Interactive Tool for Visualizing, Simulating, and Perturbing Cell-Cycle Progression. (2018) Cell Systems 7(2):180-4. PMID: 30077635
DNA Damage Checkpoint Dynamics
Each cell-cycle phase shows a distinct sensitivity and temporal response to DNA damage, explaining why differences in the timing of DNA damage can lead to heterogeneous cell fate outcomes. Chao HX, Poovey CE, Privette AA, Grant GD, Chao HY, Cook JG, Purvis JE. Orchestration of DNA Damage Checkpoint Dynamics across the Human Cell Cycle. (2017) Cell Systems 5(5):445-459.e5. PMID: 29102360
Licensed to Differentiate
Slowing down the rate at which replication origins are licensed causes stem cells to differentiate more readily. These findings show that the processes of cell differentiation and DNA replication are closely linked. Matson JP, Dumitru R, Coryell P, Baxley RM, Chen W, Twaroski K, Webber BR, Tolar J, Bielinsky AK, Purvis JE, Cook JG. Rapid DNA replication origin licensing protects stem cell pluripotency. (2017) Elife 6. pii: e30473. PMID: 29148972
Field Trip to the Purvis Lab
Support from the National Science Foundation helped third-grade students from Durham's Central Park School of Children learn to isolate DNA from their own cells.
We build computational models to understand how cells make decisions. We are especially interested in the organization and dynamics of the human cell cycle as well as early cell fate decisions during embryonic development.