David R. Kovar, PhD

Professor of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology
Associate Dean of Basic Science, Graduate Education
Research and Scholarly Interests: Cell Division, Cell Polarity, Cytoskeleton, Self-organization, Single Molecule Imaging, TIRF Microscopy
Websites: Kovar Lab Website, Research Network Profile
Contact: drkovar@uchicago.edu
Graduate Programs: Cell & Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Committee on Development, Regeneration, and Stem Cell Biology, UChicago Biosciences

Cells simultaneously assemble and maintain different actin cytoskeleton networks of distinct organizations and dynamics for fundamental processes such as polarization, endocytosis, motility and division. How does a shared pool of actin monomer building blocks self-organize into distinct actin filament networks of specific densities, sizes and function within a common cellular cytoplasm? Our research group is investigating the molecular mechanisms that govern how diverse actin cytoskeleton networks self-organize through (1) competition for a limited supply of actin monomers, (2) network-specific sorting of actin binding proteins, and (3) the effects of different combinations of actin binding proteins on actin filament network organization, dynamics and function. We take advantage of complementary experiments in live cells and with purified components. These interdisciplinary techniques include genetics, time-lapse fluorescence microscopy of cells, biochemistry, biophysics, in vitro reconstitution and multi-color single molecule TIRF microscopy imaging.

Yale University
New Haven, CT
Postdoctoral Fellow - Biochemistry and Biophysics
2005

Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
PhD - Biological Sciences
2001

Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH
BA - Botany and Microbiology
1995

Molecular biology: In competition, actin filament turnover saves the day.
Molecular biology: In competition, actin filament turnover saves the day. Curr Biol. 2025 Feb 03; 35(3):R101-R104.
PMID: 39904306

Cracked actin filaments as mechanosensitive receptors.
Cracked actin filaments as mechanosensitive receptors. Biophys J. 2024 10 01; 123(19):3283-3294.
PMID: 38894540

A step-by-step guide to fragmenting bundled actin filaments.
A step-by-step guide to fragmenting bundled actin filaments. J Cell Biol. 2024 06 03; 223(6).
PMID: 38748453

Prediction of the essential intermolecular contacts for side-binding of VASP on F-actin.
Prediction of the essential intermolecular contacts for side-binding of VASP on F-actin. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken). 2024 Aug; 81(8):382-392.
PMID: 38647032

Arp2/3 complex- and formin-mediated actin cytoskeleton networks facilitate actin binding protein sorting in fission yeast.
Arp2/3 complex- and formin-mediated actin cytoskeleton networks facilitate actin binding protein sorting in fission yeast. Eur J Cell Biol. 2024 Jun; 103(2):151404.
PMID: 38493594

Highly flexible PEG-LifeAct constructs act as tunable biomimetic actin crosslinkers.
Highly flexible PEG-LifeAct constructs act as tunable biomimetic actin crosslinkers. Soft Matter. 2024 Jan 31; 20(5):971-977.
PMID: 38190228

Multi-monoubiquitylation controls VASP-mediated actin dynamics.
Multi-monoubiquitylation controls VASP-mediated actin dynamics. J Cell Sci. 2024 01 15; 137(2).
PMID: 38277158

Multi-monoubiquitination controls VASP-mediated actin dynamics.
Multi-monoubiquitination controls VASP-mediated actin dynamics. J Cell Sci. 2024 Jan 12.
PMID: 38214186

Reconstitution of the transition from a lamellipodia- to filopodia-like actin network with purified proteins.
Reconstitution of the transition from a lamellipodia- to filopodia-like actin network with purified proteins. Eur J Cell Biol. 2023 Dec; 102(4):151367.
PMID: 37890285

Multi-monoubiquitination controls VASP-mediated actin dynamics.
Multi-monoubiquitination controls VASP-mediated actin dynamics. bioRxiv. 2023 Jul 17.
PMID: 37503134

View All Publications

BSD Distinguished Educator and Mentor Award
University of Chicago
2011