Emil Reisler

Dr. Emil Reisler is a Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of cell motility and cytoskeletal dynamics, particularly the interactions between actin, myosin, and associated regulatory proteins. With expertise spanning biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology, Dr. Reisler's work provides fundamental insights into how chemical energy is transduced into mechanical force in both muscle and non-muscle cells.

Dr. Reisler received his B.A. from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel, and his Ph.D. from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. He completed postdoctoral training in the Biology Department of Johns Hopkins University. His research program operates at two complementary levels: molecular studies of protein structure-function relationships and cellular investigations of assembled protein systems.

Dr. Reisler's laboratory investigates the structural and dynamic properties of cytoskeletal proteins using biochemical, biophysical, immunochemical, and biological approaches. His team employs nucleotide analogues, specific antibodies, synthetic peptides, and protein mutants to probe molecular interactions. At the cellular level, they study the formation and regulation of actin filaments, with particular interest in how cellular factors control filament assembly and function. Recent work has focused on actin dynamics and regulation through various mechanisms including oxidation, conformational changes, and protein-protein interactions.

Analysis of Dr. Reisler's recent publications reveals a strong focus on actin dynamics and regulation. His work spans structural biology techniques including cryo-EM, NMR spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy to understand the molecular mechanisms of actin filament assembly, disassembly, and remodeling. Key themes include the roles of regulatory proteins like cofilin, Mical, drebrin, and formins in controlling actin dynamics through various mechanisms including oxidation, conformational changes, and protein-protein interactions.

Dr. Reisler's research group includes research associates, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers working collaboratively to advance our understanding of cytoskeletal mechanics. His laboratory maintains active collaborations with other research groups, as evidenced by the multi-institutional authorship on many publications.