Dr. Karen K. Resendes
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Assistant Professor of Biology222 Hoyt Science CenterWestminster College New Wilmington, PA 16172 USA 724-946-7211(Office) resendkk@westminster.edu Curriculum Vitae |
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Teaching
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Research
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Biological Research
Nuclear TransportMy research involves studying the export of protein and RNA from the Nucleus. Eukaryotic cells are distinct from prokaryotes in that the genome is located in its own distinct compartment, the nucleus. Evolution of the nucleus allowed for an additional level of regulation within the cell, i.e., the separation of transcription from translation. This separation of nuclear and cytoplasmic environments necessitated a mechanism for communication between these two compartments. The nuclear pore developed to mediate all traffic in and out of the nucleus. Small molecules and proteins are capable of freely diffusing through the nuclear pore. Larger proteins, however, require specific transport receptors to facilitate their journey through the pore. These include involved in transcription and replication that require this system to access the genome. Similarly, RNAs and regulatory proteins exit the nucleus through the nuclear pore. A clear understanding of the mechanism of transport between the nucleus and cytoplasm is needed to illuminate the essential role of nuclear import and export to many major cellular functions, including gene activation, mRNA processing, translation, and the cell cycle. Moreover, because viruses such as HIV hijack cellular nuclear transport receptors during the viral life cycle, dissecting nuclear transport mechanisms will be key to developing anti-viral therapies.
A New Player in Nuclear Transport: Centrin 2
Centrin proteins are small calcium binding proteins traditionally associated with and essential to microtubule nucleating centers, s
uch the
vertebrate centrosome and the equivalent spindle pole body of
yeast. Centrin 2 colocalizes with the nuclear pore in vivo and
specifically interacts with the Nup107-160 nucleoporin
subcomplex of the nuclear pore, which is essential for nuclear
pore formation. Moreover centrin 2 is required for both mRNA and
protein export. Overexpression of either the N- or
C-terminal half of centrin 2 in HeLa cells disrupts both mRNA
and protein export, while leaving protein import intact. Our
research focuses on the role of Centrin 2 in Ran-dependant
and Ran-independent export pathways. Alteration of nuclear transport during apoptosis.
The newest avenue of research in my laboratory is understanding the role of nuclear export in apoptosis. Specifically I am interested in whether or not certain cytotoxic chemotherapeutics disrupt nuclear transport early or late in the progression of apoptosis.
Recent Publications:
Resendes, KK. , Rasala, B., and D. J. Forbes. Centrin 2 localizes to the vertebrate
nuclear pore and plays a role in mRNA and protein export. Mol Cell Biol. 2008
Mar;28(5):1755-69. doi:10.1128/MCB.01697-07
Recent Presentations: (* Indicates undergraduates)
Poster Presentation at the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Annual Meeting April 2013: Human PCID2 plays analagoud roles to Centrin 2 outside of the TREX-2 complex. CN Cunningham*, CA Schmidt*, and KK Resendes.
Poster Presentation at the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Annual Meeting April 2013: Calcium mediate regulation of karyopherin nuclear transport receptors. LE Foltz*, K. Cholewa*, A. Grenet*, and KK Resendes.
Poster Presentation at the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Annual Meeting April 2013: The effect of camptothecin on nuclear RanGTP levels in HeLa cells. AM Steinheiser* and KK Resendes.
Poster Presentation at the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Annual Meeting April 2013: The effectiveness of the hybrid teaching method in introductory biology at a PUI. KK Resendes, K. Mroz*, and Christina Campbell* .
Undergraduate Student Research Projects:
CURRENT PROJECTS:
Sarah Broskin: The effect of topotecan on nuclear RanGTP levels in HeLa cells
Brittany Colosimo: The effect of 5 fluorouracil on nuclear RanGTP levels in HeLa cells
Gretchen Diffendall: Calcium mediated regulation of TERT (telomerase) localization.
David Osae: Determining the effects of centrin 2 on protein export in relation to cell cycle.
Christina Volsko:The effect of irinotecan on nuclear RanGTP levels in HeLa cells
Paul Woods: Characterizing new players in nuclear protein export.
RECENT GRADUATES:
2013
Corey Cunningham: Characterizing TREX2 components outside of mRNA export
Lauren Foltz and Kelly Cholewa : Effects of Increased Calcium Levels on Protein Export
Amy Steinheiser: The effect of camptothecin on nuclear RanGTP levels in HeLa cells
2012
Casey Schmidt: Characterization of new players in mRNA export using over-expression assays
Casey Schmidt: Characterization of new players in mRNA export using over-expression assays
Stephanie Woodward and Ashley Grenet: Determing the role of calcium regulation on nuclear protein transport using Thapsigargin
Kaci Batzel: Determining the effects of thapsigargin on cellular energy levels
2011
Jordan Richardson: Characterization of new players in mRNA export using siRNA knockdown
Jasmine Grady: Understanding the role of the N-terminal calcium binding domains of Centrin2
2010
Robin McConahy: Studying the effects of Calcium Inhibitors on the Ran Gradient
Chase Saraiva: Characterization of new players in mRNA export