Fall Research Expo 2021

Copper Regulation of the PERK Arm of the Integrated Stress Response

My project researched the effects of copper on the integrated stress response (ISR), specifically its effect on PKR-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), one of the four kinases that activates the ISR. PERK is activated in response to misfolded proteins within the cell and is activated chronically in many neurodegenerative diseases. Previous research showed that PERK has a copper-binding domain, so my project’s goal was to determine if PERK activation is copper-dependent. By treating Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast cells (MEFs) with two drugs that activate the ISR either through PERK or through other mechanisms in combination with a copper chelator to reduce the amount of copper in the cells, I was able to establish that PERK behavior does depend on copper levels within the cell.

PRESENTED BY
PURM - Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program
College of Arts & Sciences 2023
Advised By
Dr. Kelly Jordan-Sciutto
Vice Chair and Professor, Department of Basic & Translational Sciences
Join Noah for a virtual discussion
PRESENTED BY
PURM - Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program
College of Arts & Sciences 2023
Advised By
Dr. Kelly Jordan-Sciutto
Vice Chair and Professor, Department of Basic & Translational Sciences

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