Founded in 1888 as the Marine Biological Laboratory Catalyst SPRING 2009 VOLUME 4, NUMBER 1 I N T H I S I S S U E 4 On Fertile Ground 8 Smart Skin 10 Science That Ready, Aim: Cancer Makes a Difference How basic research at the MBL solves real-world problems page 2 F ROM THE D IRECTOR MBL Catalyst Dear Friends, At the MBL, we continually look ahead by pushing the frontiers of the biological SPRING 2009 VOLUME 4, NUMBER 1 sciences. We know that these fundamental studies will pay off in the long run, and MBL Catalyst is published twice yearly by the will bring great benefits to medicine and the welfare of society. Yet we also know Office of Communications at the MBL in Woods that translational results—such as new medical therapies—began with the most Hole, Massachusetts. The MBL is an international, independent, nonprofit institution dedicated to basic biological research. In this issue of MBL Catalyst, we highlight how MBL basic discovery and to improving the human condition research has translated to important applications, sometimes in unexpected ways. through creative research in the biological, And we spotlight current activities that may lead to solutions to some of our most biomedical, and environmental sciences. Founded important social challenges. in 1888 as the Marine Biological Laboratory, the MBL is the oldest private marine laboratory in the Americas. We are tremendously encouraged by recent support, at both the state and national levels, for basic research as a crucial investment and stimulus for economic growth. Senior Advisors Last year, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick spearheaded and signed into law Director and CEO: Gary Borisy a $1 billion Life Sciences Act, $10 million of which was awarded to the MBL. And Director of External Relations: Pamela Clapp Hinkle President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act makes the largest investment in basic research funding in the nation’s history. Clearly, the MBL is MBL Catalyst Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andrea Early at the forefront of an invigorated era in science and technology. While our basic Managing Editor/Senior Writer: Diana Kenney research programs are laying the foundation for great advances in medicine and Guest Science Editor: Joshua Hamilton environmental management, our educational program is training future leaders in Designer: Beth Ready Liles the biological and ecological sciences. Contributors: David Gallagher Gina Hebert Pamela Wilmot One very promising avenue at the MBL is our new initiative in regenerative biology and medicine, which builds on several of the MBL’s longtime strengths. In Photography: Inside front cover: W. Mebane; this emerging discipline, scientists are laying the groundwork for future medical E. Armstrong. Table of Contents: C. Walczak; E. Hebert; R. Hanlon; K. Rajalingam. Pp. 2–3 therapies to restore lost, damaged, or aging cells and tissues in the human body. (clockwise, left to right): T. Kleindinst; National Many animals are able to regenerate a wide range of tissues and organs, from the Cancer Institute; Centers for Disease Control (CDC); cornea to the complete nervous system. We seek to understand these stem-cell O. Shimomura; J. Mancuso; G. Lyons; (background) NOAA. Pp. 4–5: E. Hebert; E. Armstrong; (background) driven regenerative processes, taking advantage of the MBL’s renowned expertise T.H. Morgan. Pp. 6–7 (clockwise, left to right): PLoS in developmental biology and the remarkable ability of aquatic organisms to Biology; CDC; K. Lucey; S. Breton; National Digital Library. Pp. 8–9 (background): L. Mäthger; (top right) regenerate. With a generous contribution from the Bell family, we have established R. Hanlon; T. Kleindinst. Pp. 10–11 (clockwise, left to an annual visiting scientist research fellowship in this area, and we are partnering right): Lenor/Dreamstime.com; K. Rajalingam; with scientists at UMass Dartmouth, Brown and elsewhere to develop collaborative MBL Physiology course; C. Walczak. Pp. 12-13 (clockwise, left to right): T. Kleindinst; W. Mebane. opportunities in this important field. p. 14: NASA SeaWiFS Project; E. Armstrong; C. Neill. p. 15: E. Armstrong; (background) C. Rieken. p. 16: I wish to extend my thanks to Josh Hamilton, guest science editor for this issue T. Kleindinst. p. 17: courtesy of J. Levin. Back page: R. Hanlon. of MBL Catalyst. As the MBL’s chief academic and scientific officer, Josh is a key member of our leadership staff. Under his guidance, the Brown-MBL Graduate About the cover: A boy in L’Acul, Haiti, where MBL experts are teaching sustainable methods of freshwater-fish farming Program is flourishing, and Josh is also identifying opportunities for intellectual to give villagers a reliable source of protein and much- property transfer from the MBL. Given the MBL’s success in scientific education needed income. (Photo by Bill Mebane. Story on page 12.) and discovery, both responsibilities are keeping him very busy. Online extras: For full image descriptions, supplemental materials, and other information related to this issue, visit: www.MBL.edu/catalyst Gary Borisy Send correspondence to: Director and Chief Executive Officer Marine Biological Laboratory MBL Communications Office 7 MBL Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543 508-289-7423, [email protected] I N THI S I ss UE Catalyst F EATURE S Science That Makes 2 a Difference Basic research powers the engine of progress, and benefits us all. 4 On Fertile Ground Sheldon Segal’s search for a contraceptive led, surprisingly, to the discovery of a fertility drug that has helped numerous women conceive. His MBL research paved the way. 8 Smart Skin Can you imagine a colorful, changeable computer display that requires no power source? Roger Hanlon and Lydia Mäthger can. 10 Ready, Aim: Cancer Tim Mitchison channels his expertise in cell division toward finding a cure. D EPARTMENT S 6 NEWS & NOTES 14 G IFT S & G RA N T S 16 S CIE N TI S T ’ S E YE V IEW The latest findings from our Expecting the Unexpected laboratories and field sites. Joshua Hamilton reflects on the 14 A CCOLADE S powerfully useful, but completely unforeseen outcomes of basic 12 MBL M OME N T research. 15 C OOL T OOL From Sunlight to Sustenance Battling the Matrix In Haiti, MBL scientists teach With clinical uses in mind, Gary 17 M EMORABILIA impoverished families how to raise Borisy and his MBL colleagues invent fish for food. An Application Gels a novel way to visualize bacteria. How the blood of the horseshoe crab entered medical clinics worldwide. MBL Catalyst RI SP NG 2009 MBL Science That Makes a Difference “Science, no matter how basic or applied, has meaning and impact through its contribution toward the betterment of humankind.” — Sheldon Segal, MBL Honorary Trustee Every day at the MBL, researchers pursue the exacting, unbiased process of basic scientific inquiry into nature—from how a single cell develops to the ecological relationships that balance our biosphere. From this endeavor, many enormously important contributions to health and human welfare have sprung. In this issue of MBL Catalyst, meet some of these dedicated MBL scientists, and discover the remarkable—and sometimes surprising—applications of their knowledge to benefit society. 2 MBL Catalyst RI SP NG 2009 Basic research powers the engine of progress, and benefits us all. Here are some examples from the MBL: Tim Hunt discovered the protein cyclin at In Type 1 diabetes, the insulin-producing the MBL in 1982 cells in the islets of Langerhans, the and, more recently, region of the pancreas where hormones cyclin’s role in are produced, are selectively destroyed breast cancer has by an autoimmune process. Many come to light. researchers are seeking ways to engineer Today, therapies functioning islets of Langerhans for that target cyclin transplantation into diabetic patients. in order to block One novel approach is being developed expansion of by Peter J.S. Smith of the MBL Cellular cancerous stem Dynamics Program and Ron Pethig of cells are under University of Edinburgh. By manipulating MBL distinguished development. the electrical field around insulin- scientist Osamu producing cells, they are able to draw Shimomura the cells into matrices that mimic islets of discovered the Langerhans. green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the Aequorea The Oosight™ microscope, jellyfish in 1962. based on MBL technology, Today, researchers is used in fertility clinics This food- and worldwide use to assess the health of waterborne GFP to illuminate eggs prior to in vitro parasite, Giardia cellular processes fertilization. The imaging lamblia, is that were technology was developed prevalent in previously invisible. by Rudolf Oldenbourg and developing Roger Tsien, a co- Michael Shribak of the countries and recipient of the MBL’s Cellular Dynamics causes more the 20,000 intestinal 2008 Nobel Prize Program, and is licensed infections a year in the United States. in Chemistry with to Cambridge Research The MBL’s Hilary Morrison and her Shimomora and & Instrumentation (CRi), colleagues sequenced the genome of Martin Chalfie, is Inc. CRi developed the Giardia, and identified several potential now developing microscope for clinical drug targets for the persistent giardiasis fluorescent use in collaboration with infection. New drugs for the infection nanoparticles that former MBL investigators are currently being investigated at other will light up the David Keefe and Lin Liu. institutions. edges of tumors for cancer surgeons as they operate. MBL Catalyst RI SP NG 2009 3 On Fertile Ground MBL research has helped millions of women to conceive and manage their reproductive years Infertility treatment can be a long, Segal was a young scientist at the That productive summer in Tyler’s trying journey, marked by monthly Rockefeller Institute in New York in lab would provide Segal with a cycles of hope and disappointment. 1957 when he was surprised by a “lifelong thrill and memory.” Segal But some women conceive quickly, phone call from the distinguished eventually found that the compound within the first few months of developmental biologist, Albert prevented pregnancy in mammals by treatment, and usually it’s because Tyler.