PRIMARY FACULTY

Teresa Dunn, Ph.D.
Professor
Biochemistry
 
4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda MD 20814
Office: 301-295-3592
Fax: 301-295-1996
tdunn@usuhs.mil

Sphingolipid Synthesis And Function
 
The research interests in my lab are focused on identifying and characterizing the enzymes responsible for sphingolipid synthesis, on determining how sphingolipid synthesis is regulated, and on elucidating the physiological functions of these important lipids. A combined genetic and biochemical approach using the model eukaryote, Saccharomyces cerevisiae is being used. We devised a powerful screen for identifying mutants with defects in sphingolipid biosynthetic genes. Through the characterization of these mutants we have identified and characterized many of the genes that encode the proteins required for the synthesis of the very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA) and long chain base (LCB) moieties of ceramide. These genes are conserved in evolution and in an NSF-funded collaborative project with several plant groups we have recently undertaken the characterization of the Arabidopsis thaliana homologs of the yeast sphingolipid genes. We are also studying the genes that encode the enzymes that are responsible for the synthesis of the mammalian LCB, sphingosine. Recently it was reported that mutations in the human homolog of one of these genes, LCB1, are responsible for the human disease, hereditary sensory neuropathy type I (HSNI). Studies of the effect of the corresponding mutations in the yeast LCB1 gene indicate that this peripheral neuropathy arises from reduced SPT activity. In an NIH-funded project, we are investigating the basis of this human disease.

Selected Publications

Resources