BIO
I grew up in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, and moved to Bowling Green, Ohio where I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s in Biology. During my time there I worked in several labs. I studied a pathogenic oomycete that causes Root Rot in Glycine max during my undergraduate career. During my Master’s I focused on the genetic basis of color polymorphisms in Lupinus perennis. In addition to my love of plants, I enjoy outdoor activities such as running and kayaking.
My research is on the vesicle trafficking of plasma membrane proteins in Arabidopsis. Especially, I study the protein VTI13 and its role in trafficking to the vacuole. VTI13 is a type of SNARE protein found on early endosomes and the tonoplast that facilitates the fusion of membranes by targeting corresponding SNAREs on the target membrane. The vti13 knockout mutant has a short root hair phenotype. A proteomic analysis identified 3 plasma membrane proteins as potential cargo for VTI13 endosomes: patelline 1 (PATL1), Arabidopsis Proton ATPase 1 (AHA1), and Arabidopsis Proton ATPase 2 (AHA2). I have created transgenic lines in Arabidopsis expressing these proteins tagged with RFP (Red Fluorescence Protein). My aim is to show these proteins are cargo of VTI13 through colocalization of RFP-tagged plasma membrane proteins with a tagged GFP VTI13. Additionally, I am investigating how this pathway impacts growth and development in my work.
Bio
I grew up in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, and moved to Bowling Green, Ohio where I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s in Biology. During my time there I worked in several labs. I studied a pathogenic oomycete that causes Root Rot in Glycine max during my undergraduate career. During my Master’s I focused on the genetic basis of color polymorphisms in Lupinus perennis. In addition to my love of plants, I enjoy outdoor activities such as running and kayaking.
My research is on the vesicle trafficking of plasma membrane proteins in Arabidopsis. Especially, I study the protein VTI13 and its role in trafficking to the vacuole. VTI13 is a type of SNARE protein found on early endosomes and the tonoplast that facilitates the fusion of membranes by targeting corresponding SNAREs on the target membrane. The vti13 knockout mutant has a short root hair phenotype. A proteomic analysis identified 3 plasma membrane proteins as potential cargo for VTI13 endosomes: patelline 1 (PATL1), Arabidopsis Proton ATPase 1 (AHA1), and Arabidopsis Proton ATPase 2 (AHA2). I have created transgenic lines in Arabidopsis expressing these proteins tagged with RFP (Red Fluorescence Protein). My aim is to show these proteins are cargo of VTI13 through colocalization of RFP-tagged plasma membrane proteins with a tagged GFP VTI13. Additionally, I am investigating how this pathway impacts growth and development in my work.