Lauren Parker Jackson, Ph.D.

Research

My lab explores the molecular systems that direct the trafficking of cargo such as proteins and fatty lipid molecules around the inside of a cell. For cells to function properly, many molecules must be delivered to the appropriate locations within a cell. Much of this trafficking is carried out by vesicles—small membrane-enclosed spheres covered with specialized surface "coat proteins," which not only maintain vesicle structure but also determine which cargo molecules will be transported and where they will be taken. I will investigate lesser-known coat proteins to determine how they assemble, recognize their cargo, and direct material to the correct destination. Because mutations in these proteins are associated with Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases, understanding how coat proteins facilitate molecule trafficking in nerve cells could lead to novel treatments for neurodegenerative and neurological disorders.