Dr. Lula Smith
Associate Professor of Biology
Dept. of Biological Sciences
Email: lusmith@alasu.edu
Phone: 334-229-4454
Dr. Lula Smith is an Associate Professor of Biology in the Department of Biological
Sciences. Dr. Smith received her MS degree from Alabama State University and her doctoral
degree in Microbiology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.
Dr. Smith’s teaching interests includes Human Anatomy and Immunology. Currently, Dr.
Smith is analyzing the molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis: Role of the
actomyosin cytoskeleton. Dr. Smith’s area of study concentrates on the intracellular
spread of non-motile gram-negative pathogenic bacteria once they have penetrated the
host’s cells. Some of the gram-negative bacteria are among the leading causes of gastroenteritis
and liver disease. Another avenue of research is the role of myosin in diabetes mellitus.
The investigations combine the use of cell biology, microbiology, molecular biology,
immunology and biochemistry.
Publications:
- Smith, L., Parizi-Robertson, M., Zhu, M-S., Zhi, G., Fukui, R., Kamm, K., and Stull, J.T. (2002) Properties of Long Myosin Light Chain Kinase Binding to F-Actin in Vitro and in Vivo. J. Biol. Chem. 277, 35597-35604.
- Hatch, V., Zhi, G., Smith, L., Stull, J.T., Craig, R., Lehman, W. (2001) Myosin light chain kinase binding to
a unique site on F-actin revealed by three-dimensional image reconstruction. J. Cell
Biol. 154, 611-707.
- Smith, L. and Stull, J.T. (2000) Myosin light chain kinase binding to actin filaments FEBS
letters. 480, 298-300.
- Smith, L., Su, X-J., Lin, P-J, Zhi, G., and Stull, J.T. (1999) Identification of a Novel Actin binding Motif in Myosin Light Chain Kinase J. Biol. Chem. 274, 29433-29438.