Jon Audhya
Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research (WIMR)
9455 WIMR II
1111 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI 53705
Education
B.S., Brown University, Providence, RI
Ph.D., University of California, San Diego (S. Emr)
Postdoctoral, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (K. Oegema)
Regulation of membrane transport during development and disease
Our laboratory is committed to understanding the fundamental mechanisms by which membrane proteins, lipids, and other macromolecules are transported throughout eukaryotic cells. To do so, we take advantage of numerous interdisciplinary approaches, including biochemistry, structural biology, biophysics, genetics, molecular biology and high-resolution fluorescence and electron microscopy.
Additionally, we use a variety of experimental systems, ranging from simple animal models (e.g. Caenorhabditis elegans) to human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We also aim to recapitulate individual steps of membrane transport in vitro, using recombinant proteins and chemically defined lipids. Our ultimate goal is to identify the regulatory pathways that control membrane deformation, which enable vesicle formation in the endosomal and secretory systems. Although basic research is the cornerstone of our program, we also seek to define pathomechanisms that underlie human disease, focusing on the impact of mutations in key trafficking components that lead to cancer, neurodegeneration, asthma, and diabetes.
Areas of Expertise
- Cell Structure & Signaling
- Developmental Biology
- Membrane Dynamics & Proteins