Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2011

Mentor:  Russell DeBose-Boyd, Ph.D.                
Department: Molecular Genetics
Room number: L5-224

Mail Code: 9046

Phone number: 214-648-3467     
E-mail: Russell.DeBose-Boyd@utsouthwestern.edu              
Project title:   Sterol-accelerated degradation of HMG CoA Reductase        

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 

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)

Brief Description of Project:
This is a basic research project that will investigate mechanisms whereby certain types of sterols cause the binding of the cholesterol biosynthetic enzyme HMG CoA reductase to one of a pair of proteins called Insig-1 and Insig-2 in ER membranes.  This binding leads to the ubiquitination of reductase and results in degradation of the enzyme from ER membranes.  The goal of this project is to characterize proteins that bind to the ubiquitin ligase gp78, which mediates ubiquitination of reductase.  Additional efforts will be undertaken to determine whether these protein facilitate reductase ubiquitination and determine their mechanism of action

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

I have had at least two medical student rotate through my laboratory in the past several summers.