Harvard Catalyst Profiles

Them1, or acyl-CoA thioesterase, regulates metabolism by forming puncta in cells that change to a diffuse pattern after stimulation by cold exposure or after eating a high fat diet. The aim of this project would be to characterize the nature of puncta by using biophysics and cell/molecular biology methods. Biomolecular condensates form by liquid-liquid phase transition in cells by increasing concentration, temperature, pH, or by other properties of the protein. The student would thus use use purified Them1 and microscopy techniques to determine how Them1 phase separates into biomolecular condensates and then test the learned principles in cultured cells. The student would do hands-on bench experiments and learn to use the confocal microsocope. They would design experiments after reading papers, present the design to the PI and senior lab manager, carry-out experiments with help/supervision if needed, analyze data, present data at a weekly lab meeting, (if successful) present data at a National/International scientific meeting and write this section/co-author a paper for publication. Some wet bench skills in advance including pipetting and designing experiments would be helpful.