M2 Lab
Overview of Our Research
The M2 lab is the result of a natural evolution in research efforts of the MTM and JCM groups towards common thematic interests. In particular, this work focuses on understanding how the essential sugar glucose is distributed in the parasite; from its acquisition from the environment to its distribution to mature glycosomes. This also includes the site of metabolism of the hexose. Understanding this requires the strengths of both teams, including cell biology, molecular genetics, and biochemical approaches.
Current Projects
Glucose Sensing in T. Brucei
Matthew Morgan
I am working towards determining how T. brucei detects and absorbs glucose. The focus now is on a tentative glucose transporter and involves tagging that protein to determine where it localizes in the organism, as well as removing the glucose transporter to see how this affects the growth of T. brucei.
Trypanosome Contact Points
Sabrina Sutton Pizarro
My goal is to better understand how metabolites move within trypanosomes. Within the cell, metabolites move from organelle to organelle, so there must be places were these organelles interact. These "contact points" have been identified in a variety of organisms, but not in trypanosomes. My job is to identify proteins that are potentially involved in these contact points.
