A lab resembles a giant organism made up numerous systems – in this case it’s the scientists – working towards a common goal. My role in The Perfect Lab is one of the many small parts that contribute towards the ultimate lab project.
As I mentioned in my earlier blogs, the Perfect Lab works with cryptococus neoforms to provide scientific data that can be used to develop an effective anti-fungal drug. There is an identified pathway that proved to be unique to the fungus hence a highly likely target for drug development. This pathway is commonly known as the trehalose pathway. It is part of the glycolytic pathway that converts glucose to energy in the fungus.
Trehalose Pathway
There are three important enzymes in the trehalose pathway: TPS1, HXK1 and the HXK2. An understanding of their respective roles and characters is certainly important towards the ultimate development of an anti-fungal drug. My project in the lab is based on the characterisation of the developed mutants to understand more about TPS1 and HXK1/Hxk2.
I’m currently working with 57 suppressors – mutant genes that suppress the phenotypic expression of another usually mutant gene. I characterise their performance at different temperatures, their ability to produce melamine and their cell wall production among other characteristics. The results will be confirmed by an examination of proteins that are probably responsible for the development of such phenotypes.
It is fascinating to work with a group of talented and hardworking scientists who are working constantly to push our understanding of pathogens.
