The Biology of Peroxiredoxin 6
Jose Pablo Vazquez-Medina, Professor
Integrative Biology
Applications for Spring 2025 are closed for this project.
Oxidative damage to mitochondria has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes, stroke, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and many other metabolic syndrome disorders. Recent work shows that deletion of the antioxidant protein peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6) dysregulates mitochondrial function. PRDX6 is a multi-functional enzyme that expresses at least 2 activities in separate catalytic sites: peroxidase and acidic calcium-independent phospholipase A2 (aiPLA2). The objective of this study is to understand the role of PRDX6 in protecting mitochondria during high-fat diet-induced metabolic disorders. Mice with single-point knock-in mutations in each PRDX6 active site and a full knock-out model will be administered with standard and high-fat diets.
Role: The prospective student will aid in handling, health checks, and breeding mice. They will learn basic wet lab, cell culture, and tissue collection techniques. Additionally, the student will gain research techniques such as reading and presenting scientific literature, experimental design, and data analysis and interpretation.
Qualifications: Knowledge of laboratory safety and sterile technique. Experience with rodent models is highly desirable.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Dr. Dianna Xing
Hours: to be negotiated
Related website: https://www.vazquezmedinalab.com/
Biological & Health Sciences