Associate Professor Robert Yang has been studying the biogenesis and dynamics of lipid droplets for over a decade.
Bioenergetics and Mitochondrial Metabolism
Mitochondria are the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde of life, but the nature of their relationship with the cell's nucleus remains to be determined. As Dr Jekyll, they are the powerhouse of the cell and produce 80% of our cell's energy in the form of ATP, which is essential for life. But, as the misanthropic Mr Hyde, mitochondria produce reactive oxygen species (also known as free radicals) as a by-product of normal metabolism.
Reactive oxygen species damage DNA, cell membranes and lipids and are proposed to be a major contributor to cell and organismal death. Thus, a common feature across all animals, including humans, is that mitochondrial bioenergetics is linked to oxidative stress, but the nature of these relationships with the phenotype of the organism has yet to be properly defined. A continuing goal is to define this relationship in Drosophila.
BABS personnel that are responsible for this project