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Peroxisomes are one of the latest discovered and the least understood of the classical organelles. First described some 50 years ago, these ubiquitous and pleomorphic organelles remain an enigma in terms of their biogenesis, maintenance and degradation. A comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms is critical to understanding the role of these essential organelles in maintaining cellular homeostasis and viability, and ultimately, its role in various human diseases. Peroxisomes are essential organelles that are required for the cellular metabolism of fatty acids, amino acids, and cellular toxins such as hydrogen peroxides. They also play a crucial role in the biosynthesis of bile salts (salts necessary for lipid digestion), and plasmalogen (essential lipids for the brain, heart and muscles). The importance of peroxisomes for proper cellular function is seen in the numerous inheritable genetic disorders resulting from a mutation in a single enzyme in peroxisomes, or mutation in proteins involved in the assembly of peroxisomes. Although the effects of these mutations in peroxisomal functions/assembly can be seen in various organs, such as, the liver, kidneys, blood and the heart; all peroxisomal disorders affect the development and function of the brain, thus, suggesting the importance of peroxisomes in brain development. The primary objective of our group is to understand the basic mechanisms involved in the maintenance of peroxisomes in the mammalian cell, particularly in brain development. To achieve this goal, we are focusing on understanding the 1) biogenesis and 2) degradation of peroxisomes using cutting-edge live-cell microscopy techniques on state of the art microscopes in combination with biochemical approaches.