Dr. Ibba’s Lab: Bugs 'n' Drugs Lab
Dr. Michael Ibba - ibba@chapman.edu
Whitney Wood - whwood@chapman.edu
Lorenzo Leiva - lleiva@chapman.edu
Website: https://chapman0.sharepoint.com/sites/directory/SitePages/Dr.-Michael-Ibba.aspx
College: Schmid College of Science and Technology
Overview of scholarly research/creative activity: We study how cells ensure the accurate translation of the genetic code, and how changes in this process impact cellular health and contribute to microbial pathogenesis, drug resistance and disease. Many of these processes are ideal targets for the development of new antibiotics.
Specific projects working on: Evolution of the translation machinery the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are an ancient family of enzymes whose evolution and diversification help define the genetic code. We have used comparative genomics to drive experimental approaches that uncovered new components of the translation machinery with links to amino acid metabolism. We have also studied the evolutionary diversification of quality control mechanisms in the aaRS protein family in organelles, bacteria and yeast. These differences have also been used to identify and successfully screen novel antibiotic targets in a number of pathogens. Quality control in protein synthesis and accurate aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis often requires an additional proofreading activity and we have studied the mechanism and role of this process in maintaining the overall fidelity of translation. This led to our discovery of a new quality control step prior to translation elongation. We have also focused on in vivo studies linking translation quality control and cellular stress responses. We showed that non-protein amino acids, which are produced by many organisms as a bactericidal defense mechanism, are the primary threat to proteome homeostasis under certain stress conditions. Our work also uncovered an unexpected role for translation quality control in stress response signaling, leading to a reassessment of the mechanisms by which aminoacylation errors can impact cellular viability.
Number of students looking to work with: 3-4
Time commitment for students: Time commitment can be flexible for students. One-and-one meetings with the research mentor (~1h)/per week
When students are needed: Fall 2021, Interterm, Spring, and Summer 2022
Requirements for students who work with you: Some previous preliminary experience of life sciences lab work, and preferably have completed first years of general biology
What would students be expected to do: Lab experiments; literature research (limited)
Additional Information: The "Bugs "N' Drugs" lab is a well established lab but new to Chapman University. We are excited to have students join our lab where they will gain several different life science lab techniques, become competent in reading scientific literature, which are all great qualities for future jobs in science or professional school!