Laboratory for mitochondrial genetics, cell biology, and evolution

WHAT IS DISEASE? Disease can be defined as a state in which the body’s ability to maintain homeostasis of molecular and cellular processes within their physiologically “normal” range is compromised. Homeostasis is a universal principle in biology. Our lab studies how cells maintain mitochondrial homeostasis and the functional consequences of its breakdown. Why mitochondria? Because they are well-integrated with several aspects of cellular and organismal physiology, providing an unprecedented opportunity to explore diverse research topics in biology.

One focus of our lab is on studying the mitochondrial genome (yes, mitochondria have their own genome!). Mutations in the mitochondrial genome are associated with important biological consequences that include inherited diseases, aging, and the evolutionary process of speciation. Fundamental questions pertaining to the mitochondrial genome that we study include understanding the molecular basis of its copy number control, its epigenetic regulation, the evolutionary forces acting on it, and the cellular mechanisms that govern transmission of mitochondrial mutations through the female germline.

More recently, we have expanded our work to other critical aspects of mitochondrial biology. This includes uncovering an unexpected signaling role for small RNAs in regulating mitochondrial function, and revealing a role for the germline stem cells in regulating mitochondrial stress pathways. This work has provided many important insights including into the function of genes that cause cancer.

We continue to leverage mitochondria to expand our research horizons.

Our funders