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I work with the molecular
genetic model organisms Arabidopsis thaliana and Caenorhabditis
elegans, investigating responses, including epigenetic changes,
to oxidative stress.
Many of my laboratory research projects
involve the polyphenolic compoud,
nordihydroguaiaretic
acid (NDGA), which is produced by the long-lived, desert ‘creosote
bush’ Larrea tridentata. NDGA is a lipid-soluble compound
with anti-oxidant properties and has been reported to act as an
inhibitor of inflammation, viral replication, bacterial growth,
cancer progression, and lipoxygenase enzyme activity. The role of
NDGA in Larrea is unknown, although it is found both throughout the
plant and its secretions, and it can constitute up to 15% dry weight
in leaves. Being a slow-growing plant with a large, uncharacterized
genome, it is challenging to study the role of NDGA in Larrea using
molecular and genetic approaches. My research uses the
fast-growing, genetically tractable plant Arabidopsis thaliana,
which lacks NDGA, as a model system to study NDGA function.
Two proposed
functions of NDGA include protection from environmental stresses,
like temperature and/or ultra-violet B (UVB) light, and germination
inhibition of other plants that might compete with Larrea for
limited resources leaves. We're characterizing the effect of NDGA
on germination and screening mutagenized Arabidopsis seeds for those
resistant to its effects.
Our C.elegans projects involve
RNA interference (RNAi) to knock down target genes and assay for
altered oxidative stress responses using green fluorescent protein (GFP)
promoter fusions.
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