Terry H. Lechler | Scholars@Duke

Terry H. Lechler
Associate Professor in Dermatology

My lab studies how epithelial tissues of the skin and gut are formed. We are particularly interested in the roles of the cytoskeleton, cell adhesion and cell division orientations in the development and maintenance of tissues.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Associate Professor in Dermatology, Dermatology, Clinical Science Departments 2016
Associate Professor of Cell Biology, Cell Biology, Basic Science Departments 2014
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute, Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers 2006
Affiliate of the Regeneration Next Initiative, Regeneration Next Initiative, Institutes and Centers 2016

Contact Information

310 Nanaline Duke Bldg, Durham, NC 27710
Duke Box 3709, Durham, NC 27710
lechler@cellbio.duke.edu (919) 684-4550

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Postdoctoral Associate, Rockefeller University 2002 - 2006
- Ph.D., Harvard University 2001
Duke Appointment History
- Associate Professor of Dermatology, Dermatology, Clinical Science Departments 2013 - 2016
- Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Dermatology, Clinical Science Departments 2013
- Assistant Professor of Cell Biology, Cell Biology, Basic Science Departments 2006 - 2013
- Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology, Dermatology, Clinical Science Departments 2011 - 2013
Recognition
Awards & Honors
- STAR Award. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin. 2016
Expertise
Subject Headings
Research
Selected Grants
- Intestinal Morphogenesis and Differentiation awarded by National Institutes of Health 2018 - 2022
- Training Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology awarded by National Institutes of Health 2001 - 2022
- A microtubule catastrophe factor regulates stem cell position and number in the skin awarded by National Institutes of Health 2018 - 2021
- Intermediate Cell Functions in Epidermal Development awarded by National Institutes of Health 2018 - 2020
- Spindle Orientation in Skin Development and Homeostasis awarded by National Institutes of Health 2015 - 2020
- Role of Cell Adhesion and the Cytoskeleton in Epidermal Integrity awarded by National Institutes of Health 2015 - 2020
- Genetics Training Grant awarded by National Institutes of Health 1979 - 2020
- Organization and Function of Cellular Structure awarded by National Institutes of Health 1975 - 2020
- Differentiation Induced Changes in Centrosomes and Microtubule Organization awarded by National Institutes of Health 2014 - 2019
- Cell and tissue responses to desmosome disruption awarded by Dermatology Foundation 2014 - 2015
- Mechanisms Driving Asymmetric Cell Division in the Epidermis awarded by National Institutes of Health 2011 - 2012
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Journal Articles
  - Muroyama, A, Terwilliger, M, Dong, B, Suh, H, and Lechler, T. "Genetically induced microtubule disruption in the mouse intestine impairs intracellular organization and transport." Edited by Théry, M. Molecular Biology of the Cell 29, no. 13 (July 2018): 1533-1541. Full Text
  - Sumigray, K, and Lechler, T. "Cellular Dynamics Driving Elongation of the Gut." Developmental Cell 46, no. 2 (July 2018): 127-128. Full Text
  - Sumigray, KD, Terwilliger, M, and Lechler, T. "Morphogenesis and Compartmentalization of the Intestinal Crypt." Developmental Cell 45, no. 2 (April 2018): 183-197.e5. Full Text
  - Muroyama, A, and Lechler, T. "A transgenic toolkit for visualizing and perturbing microtubules reveals unexpected functions in the epidermis." eLife 6 (September 4, 2017). Full Text
  - Muroyama, A, and Lechler, T. "Microtubule organization, dynamics and functions in differentiated cells." Development (Cambridge, England) 144, no. 17 (September 2017): 3012-3021. (Review) Full Text
  - Lechler, T, and Carazo Salas, RE. "Editorial overview: Cell architecture: Mechanisms and scales of cellular organization and decision making." Current Opinion in Cell Biology 44 (February 2017): iv-v. Full Text
  - Muroyama, A, Seldin, L, and Lechler, T. "Divergent regulation of functionally distinct γ-tubulin complexes during differentiation." The Journal of Cell Biology 213, no. 6 (June 13, 2016): 679-692. Full Text
  - Zhang, X, Wu, J, Luo, S, Lechler, T, and Zhang, JY. "FRA1 promotes squamous cell carcinoma growth and metastasis through distinct AKT and c-Jun dependent mechanisms." Oncotarget 7, no. 23 (June 2016): 34371-34383. Full Text Open Access Copy
  - Seldin, L, Muroyama, A, and Lechler, T. "NuMA-microtubule interactions are critical for spindle orientation and the morphogenesis of diverse epidermal structures." Elife 5 (January 14, 2016). Full Text
  - Morrow, A, and Lechler, T. "Studying cell biology in the skin." Molecular Biology of the Cell 26, no. 23 (November 2015): 4183-4186. Full Text
  - Zhou, K, Sumigray, KD, and Lechler, T. "The Arp2/3 complex has essential roles in vesicle trafficking and transcytosis in the mammalian small intestine." Molecular Biology of the Cell 26, no. 11 (June 2015): 1995-2004. Full Text
  - Sumigray, KD, and Lechler, T. "Cell adhesion in epidermal development and barrier formation." Current topics in developmental biology 112 (January 2015): 383-414. (Review) Full Text
  - Lechler, T. "Arp2/3 complex function in the epidermis." Tissue Barriers 2, no. 4 (August 8, 2014): e944445-e944445. Full Text
  - Huebner, RJ, Lechler, T, and Ewald, AJ. "Developmental stratification of the mammary epithelium occurs through symmetry-breaking vertical divisions of apically positioned luminal cells." Development (Cambridge, England) 141, no. 5 (March 2014): 1085-1094. Full Text
  - Sumigray, K, Zhou, K, and Lechler, T. "Cell-cell adhesions and cell contractility are upregulated upon desmosome disruption." PloS one 9, no. 7 (January 2014): e101824-. Full Text
  - Seldin, L, Poulson, ND, Foote, HP, and Lechler, T. "NuMA localization, stability, and function in spindle orientation involve 4.1 and Cdk1 interactions." Molecular Biology of the Cell 24, no. 23 (December 2013): 3651-3662. Full Text
  - Zhou, K, Muroyama, A, Underwood, J, Leylek, R, Ray, S, Soderling, SH, and Lechler, T. "Actin-related protein2/3 complex regulates tight junctions and terminal differentiation to promote epidermal barrier formation." Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 110, no. 40 (October 1, 2013): E3820-E3829. Full Text Link to Item
  - Ray, S, Foote, HP, and Lechler, T. "beta-Catenin protects the epidermis from mechanical stresses." The Journal of Cell Biology 202, no. 1 (July 2013): 45-52. Full Text
  - Foote, HP, Sumigray, KD, and Lechler, T. "FRAP analysis reveals stabilization of adhesion structures in the epidermis compared to cultured keratinocytes." PloS one 8, no. 8 (January 2013): e71491-. Full Text
  - Sumigray, KD, and Lechler, T. "Desmoplakin controls microvilli length but not cell adhesion or keratin organization in the intestinal epithelium." Molecular Biology of the Cell 23, no. 5 (March 2012): 792-799. Full Text
  - Lechler, T. "Adherens junctions and stem cells." Sub-cellular biochemistry 60 (January 2012): 359-377. (Review) Full Text
  - Muroyama, A, and Lechler, T. "Polarity and stratification of the epidermis." Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology 23, no. 8 (2012): 890-896. Full Text
  - Poulson, ND, and Lechler, T. "Asymmetric cell divisions in the epidermis." International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology 295 (January 2012): 199-232. (Review) Full Text
  - Sumigray, KD, Foote, HP, and Lechler, T. "Noncentrosomal microtubules and type II myosins potentiate epidermal cell adhesion and barrier formation." Journal of Cell Biology 199, no. 3 (2012): 513-525. Full Text
  - Ray, S, and Lechler, T. "Regulation of asymmetric cell division in the epidermis." Cell Division 6 (2011). Full Text
  - Sumigray, KD, Chen, H, and Lechler, T. "Lis1 is essential for cortical microtubule organization and desmosome stability in the epidermis." Journal of Cell Biology 194, no. 4 (2011): 631-642. Full Text
  - Poulson, ND, and Lechler, T. "Robust control of mitotic spindle orientation in the developing epidermis." Journal of Cell Biology 191, no. 5 (2010): 915-922. Full Text
  - Sumigray, KD, and Lechler, T. "Dissecting cell adhesion cross-talk with micropatterns." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 107, no. 30 (2010): 13199-13200. Full Text
  - Lechler, T. "Limiting lumens: A new role for Cdc42." Journal of Cell Biology 183, no. 4 (2008): 575-577. Full Text
  - Lechler, T, and Fuchs, E. "Desmoplakin: An unexpected regulator of microtubule organization in the epidermis." Journal of Cell Biology 176, no. 2 (2007): 147-154. Full Text
  - Lechler, T. "Terry Lechler: The cytoskeleton is skin deep." Journal of Cell Biology 178, no. 4 (2007): 546-547. Full Text
  - Lechler, T, and Fuchs, E. "Asymmetric cell divisions promote stratification and differentiation of mammalian skin." Nature 437, no. 7056 (September 2005): 275-280. Full Text
  - Kodama, A, Lechler, T, and Fuchs, E. "Coordinating cytoskeletal tracks to polarize cellular movements." Journal of Cell Biology 167, no. 2 (2004): 203-207. Full Text
  - Tinkle, CL, Lechler, T, Pasolli, HA, and Fuchs, E. "Conditional targeting of E-cadherin in skin: Insights into hyperproliferative and degenerative responses." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 101, no. 2 (2004): 552-557. Full Text
  - Yarrow, JC, Lechler, T, Li, R, and Mitchison, TJ. "Rapid de-localization of actin leading edge components with BDM treatment." BMC Cell Biology 4 (2003). Full Text
  - Soulard, A, Lechler, T, Spiridonov, V, Shevchenko, A, Shevchenko, A, Li, R, and Winsor, B. "Saccharomyces cerevisiae Bzz1p is implicated with type I myosins in actin patch polarization and is able to recruit actin-polymerizing machinery in vitro." Molecular and Cellular Biology 22, no. 22 (November 2002): 7889-7906. Full Text
  - Egile, C, Lechler, T, and Li, R. "Beyond a 'skeleton': Understanding cellular functions of the cytoskeleton." Genome Biology 2, no. 3 (2001).
  - Lechler, T, Jonsdottir, GA, Klee, SK, Pellman, D, and Li, R. "A two-tiered mechanism by which Cdc42 controls the localization and activation of an Arp2/3-activating motor complex in yeast." Journal of Cell Biology 155, no. 2 (2001): 261-270. Full Text
  - Lechler, T, Shevchenko, A, and Li, R. "Direct involvement of yeast type I myosins in Cdc42-dependent actin polymerization." The Journal of Cell Biology 148, no. 2 (January 2000): 363-373. Full Text
  - Winter, D, Lechler, T, and Li, R. "Activation of the yeast Arp2/3 complex by Bee1p, a WASP-family protein." Current Biology 9, no. 9 (1999): 501-504. Full Text
  - Xiao, W, Lechler, T, Chow, BL, Fontanie, T, Agustus, M, Carter, KC, and Wei, Y-F. "Identification, chromosomal mapping and tissue-specific expression of hREV3 encoding a putative human DNA polymerase ζ." Carcinogenesis 19, no. 5 (1998): 945-949. Full Text
  - Lechler, T, and Li, R. "In vitro reconstitution of cortical actin assembly sites in budding yeast." Journal of Cell Biology 138, no. 1 (1997): 95-103. Full Text
  - Lechler, T. "Oxidized LDL as mediators of atherogenesis." Herz Kreislauf 28, no. 9 (September 26, 1996): 276-281. (Review)
  - Dimmock, JR, Puthucode, RN, Smith, JM, Hetherington, M, Quail, JW, Pugazhenthi, U, Lechler, T, and Stables, JP. "(Aryloxy)aryl semicarbazones and related compounds: A novel class of anticonvulsant agents possessing high activity in the maximal electroshock screen." Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 39, no. 20 (1996): 3984-3997. Full Text
Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses
- CELLBIO 493: Research Independent Study 2018
- CMB 710D: Cell & Molecular Biology Module IV 2018
Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
Service to the Profession
Service to Duke

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Duke Appointment History

Awards & Honors

Subject Headings

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Journal Articles

Recent Courses

Service to the Profession

Service to Duke