Centriole proteins and assembly
Investigates how protein interactions organize centrosomes and specialized basal bodies.
About
Brian Galletta studies the molecular functions of centriole proteins in Drosophila, with a focus on centrosome organization, sperm head–tail attachment, and disease models. His work combines genetics, molecular biology, imaging, and biochemical approaches.
Before joining the Rusan Lab, he investigated actin-network assembly during endocytosis in yeast and signaling and adhesion during Drosophila myoblast fusion.
Expertise
Centrioles and centrosomes, Drosophila genetics, sperm development, protein interactions, actin assembly, endocytosis and molecular cell biology
Education & career
2026–present
Associate Scientist
Rusan Lab · NHLBI, NIH
2018–2026
Staff Scientist
Rusan Lab · NHLBI, NIH
2011–2018
Research Fellow
Rusan Lab · NHLBI, NIH
2009–2011
Assistant Professor, Research Track
Washington University School of Medicine · John Cooper
2004–2009
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Washington University School of Medicine · John Cooper
2004
Ph.D. · Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology
The Pennsylvania State University · Susan Abmayr
1996
B.S. · Molecular and Cellular Biology
The Pennsylvania State University · Chemistry minor
Research highlights
Sperm head–tail connection
Studies the molecular machinery connecting sperm nuclei to their flagella.
Cytoskeletal organization
Research spans centrosomes, actin-network assembly during endocytosis, and myoblast fusion.
Publications
- A MOPD II-associated Pericentrin variant disrupts PACT domain dimerization and pericentriolar material recruitment.
- The Nuclear Pore Complex Facilitates Centriole-Nuclear Attachment in Spermatids.
- Unraveling the molecular details of centriole elongation.
- Sperm Head-Tail Coupling Apparatus Diversity and Common Themes.
- An intrinsically disordered region of Drosha selectively promotes miRNA biogenesis, independent of tissue-specific Microprocessor condensates.
- Molecular models of the sperm head-tail coupling apparatus.
- A deficiency screen identifies genomic regions critical for sperm head–tail connection.
- The proximal centriole-like structure maintains nucleus-centriole architecture in sperm
- Cep104 is a component of the centriole distal tip complex that regulates centriole growth and contributes to Drosophila spermiogenesis
- Spd-2 gene duplication reveals cell-type-specific pericentriolar material regulation
- The E3 Ligase Poe Promotes Pericentrin Degradation.
- Pericentrin interacts with Kinesin-1 to drive centriole motility.
- Dynamic sex chromosome expression in Drosophila male germ cells
- Sperm Head-Tail Linkage Requires Restriction of Pericentriolar Material to the Proximal Centriole End
- A molecular mechanism for the procentriole recruitment of Ana2
- An ordered pattern of Ana2 phosphorylation by Plk4 is required for centriole assembly.
- A centrosome interactome provides insight into organelle assembly and reveals a non-duplication role for Plk4
- Asterless is required for centriole length control and sperm development
- Actin-Regulator Feedback Interactions during Endocytosis.
- Newly Characterized Region of CP190 Associates with Microtubules and Mediates Proper Spindle Morphology in Drosophila Stem Cells
- A yeast two-hybrid approach for probing protein-protein interactions at the centrosome
- Interphase centrosome organization by the PLP-Cnn scaffold is required for centrosome function
- Two Polo-like kinase 4 binding domains in Asterless perform distinct roles in regulating kinase stability
- Drosophila Pericentrin requires interaction with Calmodulin for its function at centrosomes and neuronal basal bodies, but not at sperm basal bodies
- Molecular analysis of Arp2/3 complex activation in cells.
- Roles for actin assembly in endocytosis.
- Actin dynamics and endocytosis in yeast and mammals.
- Overlapping and distinct functions for cofilin, coronin and Aip1 in actin dynamics in vivo.
- Actin and endocytosis: mechanisms and phylogeny.
- Distinct roles for Arp2/3 regulators in actin assembly and endocytosis.
- Actin-based motility during endocytosis in budding yeast.
- Myogenesis and Muscle Development
- SNS: Adhesive properties, localization requirements and ectodomain dependence in S2 cells and embryonic myoblasts.
- Cell and molecular biology of myoblast fusion.
- Identification of a Drosophila homologue to vertebrate Crk by interaction with MBC.
- Drosophila myoblast city encodes a conserved protein that is essential for myoblast fusion, dorsal closure, and cytoskeletal organization.
Recognition
- 2025 Outstanding Mentor Award, NHLBI DIR Scientific Retreat
- 2024 Outstanding Poster, NHLBI DIR Scientific Retreat
- 2020 Orloff Science Award team member, NHLBI
- 2019 Best Pitch Award, Staff Scientist, NHLBI Research Festival
- 2017–2019 NHLBI Career Transition Award (K22)
- 2007–2008 NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA (F32)
Selected talks
2019
Workshop on Chromosome Biology
NCI Center for Excellence in Chromosome Biology
2018
Triangle Cytoskeleton Meeting
Saxapahaw, North Carolina
2016
Chicago Cytoskeleton Meeting
Chicago, Illinois
2014
EMBO Centrosomes and Spindle Pole Bodies
Lisbon, Portugal
Teaching & mentoring
Mentors postbaccalaureate fellows and provides technical, scientific, and career training to postdoctoral researchers and staff. Received the NHLBI Outstanding Mentor Award in 2025. Previously taught advanced molecular biology laboratory courses at Penn State.
Service
CDBC representative on the NIH DIR IT Steering Committee (2020–present) and an ad hoc seminar and chalk-talk reviewer for the NHLBI Academic Job Search Workshop (2019–present). Reviews manuscripts and research proposals.