Liver-Related Work

1. Role of sirtuin deacylases in regulating the mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO) pathway (NIH-funded). We are using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches to identify key lysine post-translational modifications on mitochondrial enzymes. A particular focus is on how lysine modifications may alter the assembly of large metabolic protein super-complexes in the mitochondria.
2. Co-investigator with Dr. Ed Prochownik on an NIH-funded project investigating the role of C-Myc in regulating metabolism during liver tumorigenesis.
3. Role of sirtuins in maintaining the function of peroxisomes during aging and tumorigenesis in the liver. This is a pilot project—in collaboration with Donna Stolz of the Center for Biologic Imaging—that was recently funded by the UPMC aging research group “Stimulating Pittsburgh Research in Geroscience (SPRIG).”

Associate Professor
Department of Pediatrics