People

Research Overview

Currently interested in the molecular mechanism and evolutionary biology of nucleus-vacuole junctions (NVJs), a prototype for a class of physical inter-organelle junctions called membrane contact sites.  NVJs mediate non-vesicular lipid transport and biosynthesis between the nuclear envelope and vacuole membrane in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and, as well, a form of micronucleophagy called piecemeal micronucleophagy of the nucleus.  We are currently studying variations on these phenomena in physiologically and ecologically diverse yeast species.  I am also working on a textbook describing the fascinating and beautiful molecular cell biology of signal recognition particle-mediated co-translational secretion.