microTALK - Many Metabolisms of Microbes

Come hear WCMR speakers discuss the "Many Metabolisms of Microbes" on Thursday March 21st at 3pm in STC 2002.

Featuring:

Moira Glerum

The research in the Glerum lab is geared to understanding the molecular bases for inherited diseases that affect the function of mitochondria, our cellular ‘power plants’. Through the use of the yeast model system, our studies have identified previously unknown proteins required to generate functional mitochondria and allowed us to improve our understanding of the roles of these proteins in human disease.

Kesen Ma

Kesen Ma carries out research in physiology and enzymology of hyperthermophiles, a group of microorganisms growing at temperatures of boiling water. Metabolic processes involved in the conversion of biomass to biofuels and bioproducts at elevated temperatures are studied. Novel thermostable enzymes functioning in these processes are identified and characterized.  His research provides further understanding of the mechanisms of protein thermostability, unusual metabolic pathways and biocatalysis at high temperatures, and also explores potential applications of these biocatalysts in pharmaceutical and other industrial processes.

Christina Smeaton

Christina's research focuses on elucidating the thermodynamic controls (bioenergetics) on the biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nutrients and metals. Microbial bioenergetics applies thermodynamic principles to quantitatively describe energy transformations and utilization to predict reaction rates and microbial growth. The goal of my research is to develop quantitative tools in combination with laboratory studies (e.g., mini-chemostats) to advance our ability to predict the response of microbial reaction networks to dynamic changes in physical (e.g., temperature) and geochemical (e.g., redox state, pH, substrate availability) conditions in environmental systems.