Research Department: Cell Biology Graduation Date: May 2019
Abstract: Stress response pathways enable life to persist in dynamic environments. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays an important role in responding to stress in all eukaryotes. However, how the ER membrane is impacted by and participated in stress response pathways beyond the unfolded protein response is not fully understood. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae serves as an optimal model organism to investigate this relationship, because many stress response pathways are at least partially conserved between S. cerevisiae and mammals. We develop new methods to interrogate the ER membrane’s role in stress responses using a lipid-based fluorescent ER membrane marker consisting of a BODIPY fluorophore conjugated to a fatty acid (BODIPY-FA). Using this method, we identify and characterize a novel ER-related, stress response-associated phenomenon. We found that the phenomenon is temporally-associated with nuclear translocation of the stress response transcription factors Msn2 and Crz1. Email: [email protected]
What does research mean to you? Research is like solving a mystery. The quest of a researcher is to assemble observations and identify their interrelations to discover new information about natural systems. In this way, research is both open-ended and targeted. Specific observations and phenomena spark inquiries with unpredictable outcomes. Like in the work of a detective, useful information comes both from the knowledge of others and from applying analytical tools. However, the information gleaned from these tools can never produce a complete picture of the events a researcher seek to elucidate. In this, the enthralling mystery of a bizarre phenomenon and the great puzzle of how to learn more about its mechanism and significance, I found great excitement and motivation. Yet, it was in the purposeful nature of research that I found satisfaction. The fundamental satisfaction of research is that one’s toil ultimately produces additions to the sum of human knowledge. Because of the individual contributions of each researcher, we understand more about how our world works.
Tell us about your journey. Prior to Green Fellows, I had approached the life sciences from many angles: from academics through a major in molecular biology and a minor in computer science, from laboratory research through stints with a bioengineering group at UTD and a plant science group with a focus on biotechnological applications at the John Innes Centre, and even from public policy with an internship focused on federal science and technology policy. My time in the Doncic Lab at UTSW afforded me the opportunity to unite the knowledge, skills, and lessons I took from my disparate yet, scientifically focused previous experiences. Building on this foundation through the guidance of many mentors in the Doncic Lab, I was able to develop and expand my capabilities by both uniting skill sets in new ways and treading new territory. In addition to my existing scientific interest in the more applied nature of synthetic biology, I developed broader interests as I became enthralled by the excitement and investigatory nature of fundamental basic science. By the end of Green Fellows, I was a more knowledgeable, capable, and confident scientist.
Advice for Future Green Fellows
-Take advantage of all opportunities to learn new skills.
-To the greatest extent possible, maintain abundant and open communication with your PI and other mentors in the lab.