Research Area

My research is focused on the germline transmission of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). I am investigated the process of purifying selection, which is responsible for removing mutated mtDNA from the germline. Mitochondrial diseases encompass a wide range of disorders that result from the dysfunction of mitochondrial proteins, which are encoded by both the nuclear DNA and mtDNA. Understanding the intrinsic mechanism of how mutated mtDNA is recognized and removed from the germline will give us insights for how to treat mitochondrial diseases that arise from mtDNA mutations. In order to study this problem, I am working with a strain that harbors a large mtDNA deletion (3.1kb long) known as uaDf5 that is maintained in a heteroplasmic state (i.e., uaDf5 and wildtype are both present in the animal). I have a list of candidate genes that I believe are involved in purifying selection, and I am using a highly sensitive technique, ddPCR, to determine if these genes play a role in the process. I am also working with a set of mitochondrial dyes to analyze the movement of mitochondria in the embryo to get a better understanding of how they might be trafficked and regulated during development.