Laura Oldfather, B.S. (Auburn University)
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My project is focused on understanding the mechanisms of mitochondrial copper transport. Using biochemical and genetic approaches, I am defining the residues important for transport of copper by the mitochondrial carrier family protein Pic2. Insights gained from studying the yeast protein will be applied to the mammalian variant SLC25A3.
Cobine Lab Alumni
Xinyu Zhu, PhD
​My project focused on the results of a synthetic genetic array screen that uncovered a critical role for mitochondrial copper in metalloallostery of aconitase. I explored the implications of this regulation in yeast and cell culture.
Huachen Gan, Ph.D.
​My project focused on the temporal physiological changes in cells lacking SLC25A3. I used siRNA knockdowns to compare and contrast with knockout mutations to determine the timing of each change. These studies complemented our understanding of the cardiac hypertrophy observed in cardiac specific SLC25A3knockout mouse.
Devadatta Gosavi, PhD​
My project focused on handling copper in the mitochondrial matrix. I am used molecular biology, analytical chemistry and cell biology to investigating more the changes in the endogenous pools to understand the role of matrix copper under normal conditions.
Katherine Vest, PhD
My research focused on the transport of copper into the mitochondrial matrix. I identified Pic2 a member of the mitochondrial carrier family as a transporter capable of importing copper across the inner membrane.
Catrice Hixon, PhD
My project focused a role for copper in the neurological disorder Leigh Syndrome. I determined that SURF1 patients cell lines have compromised cellular and mitochondrial copper. I showed that a copper-ionophore complex can reverse the cytochrome c oxidase defect in these cells.
Hayaa Hashemi, PhD
My research focused on the role of the ubiquinone synthesis complex in the assembly of bc1 complex.
Yunfeng Zhao, PhD
My research focused on the role of Coa1 in mitochondria. I discovered a defect in mitochondria biogenesis in this background that can be reversed by an ATP synthase subunit.
Jing Wang, PhD
My research focused on the transport of iron in mitochondria. I characterized the role of a ferric reductase in utilization of iron in mitochondria using genetic and biochemical approaches.
Bre'Ida Riddick,MS
My research was on the toxicity of copper in cell culture. I focused on a potential role of role of heme synthesis in modulating copper toxicity. I was also interested in how redox stress was contributing to toxicity.
Alex Borre, MS
My research focused on the copper and the E3-ubiquitin ligase Grr1. I worked to identify how copper was affecting a negative regulatory loop controlled by Grr1 on certain non-fermentable media.
Micah Gammon, MS
My research focused on the sco-like protein of Xylella fastidiosa and its potential roles in microaerophilic metabolism or copper accumulation in biofilm.
Alex Matthews, MS
My research focused on in vitro characterization of Pic2 from yeast. Using heterologous expression system in E. coli I produced and purified Pic2 in inclusion bodies before refolding into liposomes and was able to establish the copper transport parameters.
Shelbie Cole, MS
My research focused on ionophore induced copper toxicity and the affects on mitochondrial morphology.
Bethany Beck, MS
My research focused on using yeast genetics to determine the auxiliary transporters of copper in mitochondria.