Biological Discovery in Woods Hole Founded in 1888 as the Marine Biological Laboratory Catalyst FALL 2006 VOLUME 1, NUMBER 1 I N T H I S I S S U E 8 Nerve Center for Neuroscience 10 Catching Molecules in Motion Catalyst for Discovery By providing a charged scientific environment and attracting top researchers and students from around the globe, the MBL sparks biological discovery page 2 F ROM THE E DITOR Dear Friends, When the MBL decided to launch a new magazine, we knew it had to capture vividly the excitement, the energy, the magic that is the MBL. It also had to have a strong yet simple name that would stand the test of time, recognize the MBL’s remarkable history, and convey the institution’s aspirations for the future. But finding the perfect name for a new magazine isn’t easy. Over Catalyst the past few months we’ve brainstormed. We’ve asked members of the MBL family for suggestions. We’ve debated and tried various FALL 2006 VOLUME 1, NUMBER 1 options on for size. In the end we chose “Catalyst,” a noun we Catalyst is published twice yearly by the Office of Communications at the MBL in Woods Hole, believe speaks to the heart of what the MBL is all about. Massachusetts. The MBL is an international, The MBL is—and always has been—a catalyst… for biological independent, nonprofit institution dedicated to discovery and to improving the human condition discovery, for shaping careers, for sparking collaborations, for through creative research and education in fomenting ideas. It’s a place where the leaders of today work with the biological, biomedical and environmental the leaders of tomorrow to do remarkable things, often changing sciences. Founded in 1888 as the Marine Biological the face of biology in the process. Laboratory, the MBL is the oldest private marine laboratory in the Western Hemisphere. The stories you’ll find in this and future issues illustrate the MBL Director & CEO: Gary G. Borisy as catalyst. In our inaugural issue you’ll meet MBL’s new director Editor-in-Chief: Pamela Clapp Hinkle and CEO, Gary Borisy, and learn more about his exciting vision Guest Science Editor: Thoru Pederson Editor/Writer: Andrea Early for the institution’s future. You’ll find the latest news from our Contributors: Karen Wiens, Beth Liles, laboratories, get to know some of our scientists, and learn more Gina Hebert about our plans to transform the science that’s being done here. Art Direction: Lasater/Sumpter Design, Inc. Every issue will contain a “Scientist’s Eye View” commentary from Photography: Above: M. Murray; Table of Contents page: our guest science editor, who will share his or her thoughts about T. Kleindinst, T. Wittmann, UCSF; important issues in science. We owe a great debt of gratitude to p. 2: T. Kleindinst; p. 3: T. Kleindinst, Catalyst’s first guest editor Thoru Pederson for his good humor, D. Patterson, L. Amaral Zettler, M. Peglar, T. Nerad; gentle guidance, and deft editing. Editor and writer Andrea Early p. 4: T. Kleindinst, C. Rieder; p. 5: M. Gomez, K. Crawford, T. Kleindinst; p. 6: S.J. Giovannoni, also earns our hearty thanks for all she’s done to make Catalyst E.F. DeLong, T.M. Schmidt, N.R. Pace; a reality. p. 7: J. Laundre; p. 8: G. Gerlach; p. 9: T. Kleindinst; p. 10: T. Wittmann, UCSF; p. 11: T. Kleindinst; Catalyst will be published by the MBL twice a year. And while p. 12, 13: T. Kleindinst; p. 14: T. Kleindinst, we know scientists and MBL Corporation Members will enjoy the B. Andersen, D. Patterson; p. 15: Inset: D. France magazine, Catalyst is primarily designed for the non-scientist, for (w/LCPolScope), T. Kleindinst; p. 16: R. Carlin; Back cover: L. Broughton people who’d like to get to know the MBL better. Illustrations: So, welcome to Catalyst. Read and enjoy. We look forward p. 6, p. 7: T. Clark; p. 14: T. Gunther to sharing the magic of the MBL with you and welcome your About the cover: comments and suggestions. The MBL campus and Eel Pond as seen from the Redfield building in Woods Hole. Photo by Tom Kleindinst. Online extras: Pamela Clapp Hinkle For full image descriptions, supplemental images, video, and other information Editor-in-Chief related to this issue, visit: Director of Communications www.MBL.edu/catalyst Send correspondence to: MBL Communications Office 7 MBL Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543 508.289.7423, [email protected] MBL Catalyst FALL 2006 I N THIS I SSUE Catalyst C OVER S TORY 2 Catalyst for Discovery By providing a charged scientific environment and attracting top researchers and students from around the globe, the MBL sparks biological discovery. F EATURES 8 Nerve Center for Neuroscience Neuroscience research—like Maria Gomez’s quest to understand how nerve cells transport the neurotransmitter dopamine— is thriving at the MBL. 10 Catching Molecules in Motion How does an old fishing rod signify success to an award-winning cell biologist? Just ask MBL alumna Clare Waterman-Storer. D EPARTMENTS 6 N EWS & N OTES 14 G I F TS & G RA N TS 16 S CIE N TIST ’ S E YE V IEW The latest findings from our Catalyst guest science editor laboratories and field sites. Thoru Pederson shares his views 14 A CCOLADES on the current state of federal science funding. 12 MBL M OME N T 15 C OOL T OOL Transforming MBL Science A New Spin on Microscopy 17 M EMORABILIA Robert D. Goldman, director of the Shinya Inoué’s Centrifugal Polarizing Whitman Center for Collaborative The Birdman of Woods Hole Microscope enables scientists to Research, expounds on the Whitman MBL founding director Charles Otis apply gravitational force to cells building renovation and the MBL’s Whitman kept and studied pigeons —with exciting results. unique research environment. for 18 summers in Woods Hole. MBL Catalyst FALL 2006 Catalyst for Discovery By providing a charged scientific environment and attracting leading researchers and students from around the globe, the MBL sparks biological discovery. Scientific breakthroughs begin with a hunch, an intuitive spark, a basic question that no one has answered, or maybe even thought to ask. False starts are followed by Eureka! moments. Then, more false starts. New lab instruments are designed because the existing tools do not meet the needs of the experiment. And after months or years of painstaking work and developing and tearing apart ideas with colleagues, it happens—the researcher discovers a protein that leads to potential new treatments for cancer, probes a mechanism in a squid nerve cell that points to fresh insights into Alzheimer’s disease, or pieces together an environmental puzzle that may help protect our planet. Often the discovery has little to do with the researcher’s initial line of inquiry, but serendipity only heightens the thrill—and the impact—of discovery. For more than a century, the MBL has provided a uniquely productive place for this kind of research, attracting a high concentration of scientists and students from around the globe. They interact intensively, catalyzing the rate of development and discovery, their breakthroughs dramatically altering our understanding of biology and offering bright new possibilities for improving human health and the environment. 2 MBL Catalyst FALL 2006 Now the MBL is evolving into an even more dynamic center for biological discovery. “We are poised for a jump to a higher level of impact on biological science,” says new director and CEO, Gary Borisy (below). With Borisy at the helm; an unprecedented $5 million gift from the family of new chairman of the board John W. Rowe and his wife Valerie; and major upgrades underway in the MBL’s Whitman building, the MBLWHOI Library, and other facilities, the MBL has initiated a sea change intended to keep it at the frontier of biological science, where there is still a great deal to discover. “The MBL is a place where people fall in love with doing science…” Gary Borisy, 13th MBL Director and CEO MBL Catalyst FALL 2006 3 MBL: Catalyst for Discovery A Leader in Biology Since 1888 MBL Research Today The history of the MBL is the history MBL scientists are currently working Across campus, MBL Ecosystems of modern biology. Scientists here on the next big discoveries. In the Center scientists use stable isotope have made, and continue to make, Whitman Center for Collaborative analysis, GIS mapping, and fundamental discoveries about how Research, investigators are mathematical modeling tools to organisms—including humans— pushing the limits of cell biology examine life on a larger scale. Center reproduce and develop, how the and neuroscience, reproductive researchers gather data from simple immune system works, how sensory research and tissue engineering, and ecosystems and build computer organs gather information, and how immunology and vision research models for the same reason some brains process it. Sea urchin research to gain essential information MBL biologists study squid cells has taught us about fertility. Studies needed to solve such medical or sea urchin eggs: learning how of sea slugs have shed light on mysteries as diabetes, hearing loss, normal healthy systems work is a learning and memory. Experiments epilepsy, infertility, cancer, macular critical part of understanding—and with sponges have revealed degeneration, and Parkinson’s one day potentially fixing—systems secrets about disease immunity. disease. that are diseased or malfunctioning. Research using the nerve cells of Ecosystems Center scientists study One Whitman Investigator, for the squid has provided insights environmental systems around the example, is studying the molecules about neurodegenerative disorders. globe, including forests, salt marshes, in the horseshoe crab’s immune Horseshoe crabs have helped MBL Amazon basin streams, and Arctic system, which is leading to a better scientists lay the foundations for tundra ecosystems.