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Our research focus involves two key mitochondrial proteins, using fungi as model systems:

i) Mitochondrial porin (aka VDAC) – a channel in the outer membrane that plays a role in regulating mitochondria metabolism. We study this protein in Neurospora. This obligately-aerobic organism is amenable to genetic and biochemical analysis and therefore provides a stringent background for the study of porin.

ii) Mitochondrial DNA polymerase - the fungal versions of this protein contain an enigmatic carboxyl-terminal extension. We study this protein in Saccharomyces, which has the ability to ferment, and allows the study of mutations that would be lethal in an obligate aerobe.

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