Pamela Hoppe

Photo of Pamela  Hoppe
Pamela Hoppe
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
Office: 
(269) 387-5628
Location: 
3171 Wood Hall, Mail Stop 5410
Mailing address: 
Department of Biological Sciences
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5410 USA
Research interests: 
  • Cell biology
  • Developmental genetics
Bio: 

Dr. Pamela Hoppe is an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Western Michigan University.

Hoppe uses the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to study striated muscle cells. The lab uses a combination of molecular genetics and cell biology to identify and study proteins important for the formation and maintenance of the highly ordered muscle cytoskeleton. Research is centered on a newly identified protein kinase that is encoded by the unc-82 gene in C. elegans, and is conserved in mammals and insects. The UNC-82 kinase is required for proper placement of myosin filaments within the muscle contractile apparatus, and may play a similar role in other tissue types. A major goal of ongoing and future experiments is to determine the functional role of UNC-82 kinase in vivo and in vitro, and to identify other proteins in this regulatory or signaling pathway. This research is funded by the National Science Foundation.