Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2003

Mentor: Beverly A Rothermel
Department: Internal Medicine
Room number: NB11.210/216
Mail Code: 8573
Phone number: 8-7428/8-7429
E-mail: Beverly.Rothermel@utsouthwestern.edu

Project title:

In Vitro studies of the molecular and biochemical interaction of the protein phosphatase calcineurin with its endogenous regulator MCIP.

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): NA

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): NA

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects) Basic research

Brief Description of Project:

Calcineurin is a protein phosphatase that is the target of the major immunosuppressive drugs currently in use. Our laboratory has recently described a new family of proteins called modulatory calcineurin-interacting proteins (MCIPs) that are endogenous inhibitors of calcineurin signaling. Charles project will involve purifying recombinant calcineurin and MCIP proteins from bacteria for use in the generation of co-crystals for structural studies. He will also carry out calcineurin activity assays to determine the mechanism of MCIP modulation and inhibition of enzymatic activity.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

As a postdoctoral fellow in Sandy Williams' lab I was directly in charge of several Medical Student Summer Fellows. As faculty, Charles Bruen will be my first Summer Fellow.

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