Charleen Chu, MD, PhD

My laboratory studies organelle homeostasis, compartmentalized signals and cellular quality control in genetic and toxin models of neurodegeneration. In particular, we are interested in the mitochondrial lifecycle, and the role of proteins mutated in Parkinson’s disease, dementia and hereditary mitochondrial diseases in regulating neuron morphology and health. Using cell biologic, molecular imaging and mass spectrometry approaches, my team studies post-translational modifications and transcriptional (mtDNA and nDNA) mechanisms that mediate catabolic-anabolic imbalances in neurodegeneration.