Andrew Wong
Ph.D. Program
Previous Degree: B.Sc. Chemistry/Biochemistry
2011 Cohort
Living organisms are exceedingly organized, and this organization extends to the subcellular level, where proteins are often targeted to specific subcompartments within organelles. We have identified a family of proteins containing a domain that serves as a targeting signal to the apical tip in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Epo1, the quintessential member of this family, interacts with VAP family proteins, which have been implicated in the motorneuron disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Using a variety of computational, biochemical, and cell biology techniques, as well as the Awesome Power of Yeast Genetics, I intend to characterize the structural mechanism and physiological basis of this signal.
Supervisor: Chris Loewen
