Molecular Physiology and Biostabilization Laboratory
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About
We study the molecular mechanisms that allow some exceptional animals (extremophiles) to survive extreme environmental insults such as complete dehydration, freezing, or lack of oxygen. Based on the molecular principles operating in these organisms, we are designing novel approaches to address the biostabilization challenges of medically or pharmaceutically relevant human cells. We are particularly interested in the adaptations that preserve mitochondrial functions under extreme environmental challenges, which may offer novel insights into addressing mitochondrial dysfunctions due to pathophysiological states. Undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to contact me about current research opportunities.
Key Research Areas
- Anhydrobiosis
- Cryobiology
- Bioenergetics
- Mitochondrial Physiology
- Biostabilization
- Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
- Protenacious Phase-Separations
- Lyophilization
- Ferroptosis
- Redox Homeostasis
Team
Michael A. Menze, Principal Investigator
michael.menze@louisville.edu | View Research Profile
- David F. Grimm, Graduate Research Assistant, david.grimm@louisville.edu
- Charles A. Elder, Graduate Research Assistant, charles.elder@louisville.edu
- Alex Haydon, Graduate Research Assistant, alex.haydon@louisville.edu
- Mariah Priddy, Graduate Research Assistant, mariah.priddy@louisville.edu
Our Work
- Molecular Principles of Life without Water (Anhydrobiosis)
- Biomolecular Liquid-Liquid Phase Separations in Anhydrobiotic Animals
- Dry Preservation of Red Blood Cells
- Applications of Anhydrobiosis-Related (ARID) Proteins in Cell Preservation Technologies
- Role of Iron-Sulfur Cluster Containing Proteins in Ferroptosis and Cellular Bioenergetics
- Belott C.J., Gusev O.A., Kikawada T., and Menze MA. (2024). Membraneless and membrane-bound organelles in an anhydrobiotic cell line are protected from desiccation-induced damage. Cell Stress Chaperon, 29(3):425-436.
- Elder, C. A., Smith, J. S., Almosawi, M., Mills, E., Janis, B. R., Kopechek, J. A., Wolkers, W. F., & Menze, M. A. (2024). Cryopreserved red blood cells maintain allosteric control of oxygen binding when utilizing trehalose as a cryoprotectant. Cryobiology, 114: 104793.
- Janis B., Belott C., Tyler C., and Menze M.A. (2022). Functional and Conformational Plasticity of an Animal Group 1 LEA Protein. Biomolecules, 12(3), 425.
- Hernández-Sánchez I. E., Maruri-López I., Martinez-Martinez C., Janis B., Jiménez-Bremont J. F., Covarrubias A. A., Menze M. A., Graether S. P., Thalhammer A. (2022) LEAfing through literature: late embryogenesis abundant proteins coming of age—achievements and perspectives, J Exp Bot, 73(19), 6525–6546.
- Belott C., Janis B.R., and Menze MA. (2020). Role of Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Anhydrobiosis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. (PNAS), DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2014463117.