Division: Biochemistry

Feb. 23, 2023

2023 CAFNR Joy of Discovery Seed Grant Program Winners Announced

The second batch of proposals funded by CAFNR’s Joy of Discovery Seed Grant Program has been announced. The Joy of Discovery Seed Grant Program supports nascent, collaborative, multi transdisciplinary research with the goal of developing a competitive proposal for federal funding. The following proposals were selected (listed by the PI, Co-PI/s and title of the project): David Braun, Zachary Traylor, Sherry Flint-Garcia and Pavel Somavat; Developing the new “craft whiskey” market: Evaluation of Missouri heritage corn lines Jill Kanaley and Abdelnaby Khalyfa; Sleep Restriction, Exosomes and Insulin Resistance Abraham Khoo; Novel ways to increase biomass oil production Mengshi Lin and Jung Mun (Journey) Yang; Development…

Feb. 13, 2023

Stephanie Gates

Protein Quality Control (PQC) pathways include molecular chaperones that regulate protein folding and the substrate degradation by the Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS). In cancer, uncontrolled protein expression increases cellular dependence on PQC pathways, which protect, refold, or degrade misfolded proteins to promote cancer tumorigenesis. Conversely, a hallmark of neurodegeneration is the failure of PQC pathways to clear toxic proteins, including α-synuclein (Parkinson’s disease), Aβ and tau (Alzheimer’s disease). PQC pathways have a significant impact on human health, however fundamental aspects of these pathways are still not understood. My research group uses structural (cryo-EM), biophysical (smFRET), and biochemical approaches to determine…

Feb. 13, 2023

Adam Yokom

We are interested in discovering and understanding how protein and protein complexes regulate cellular organelles particularly in the conserved cellular pathway, Autophagy. Autophagy is a complex cascade of proteins interactions which promote the formation of a new double lipid bilayer autophagosome to encapsulate and break down cellular debris. This pathway influences development, cellular health, and protects cells against invading pathogens. Additionally, the autophagy pathway is implicated in numerous human diseases including neurodegenerative disease which are a emphasis within the group. Our main goal is to use a combination of biochemical, biophysical and cell biological tools to identify new therapeutic avenues…

Feb. 13, 2023

Endless Educational Opportunities

As part of ensuring student success, the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) offers its students numerous opportunities to connect in meaningful ways with industry professionals. Those interactions come through a variety of programs, from CAFNR-sponsored experiences to degree-specific trips. Recently, CAFNR students met with a variety of professionals through the Agribusiness Career Connections Program, Dickinson Scholars Program and Biochemistry Industry Tour. The Agribusiness Career Connection program is designed to connect CAFNR undergraduates to various agribusinesses located throughout the Midwest. Students hear from businesses and organizations, with a focus on possible internships or future job opportunities. The…

Feb. 1, 2023

The Joy of Collaboration

One year ago, a team of plant scientists and biochemists from Mizzou was among faculty awarded the first-ever CAFNR Joy of Discovery Seed Grant funding. Today, that team has parlayed that funding into a $1.25 million National Science Foundation grant that could lead to a deeper understanding of how plant immunity impacts the plant nutrient systems than ever before. The Joy of Discovery program, through the CAFNR Office of Research, aims to provide faculty with funding for interdisciplinary research that will produce preliminary data to make faculty projects more competitive to major funding sources. It provides up to $20,000 for…