Research Interests

1) Mechanisms of action of statins.  We are using C. elegans to better understand the mechanisms of action of statins, a type of medication used to regulate cholesterol levels.  In a recent publication -- Mörck et al (2009) PNAS – we showed that statins, which inhibit the mevalonate pathway of cholesterol synthesis, also cause the inhibition of small GTPases by preventing their prenylation, a lipid modification that allows small GTPases to become membrane-associated.   We recently isolated mutants that are resistant to the effects of statins, and we are currently characterizing these mutants.

2) Functions and regulation of the adiponectin receptors.  Adiponectin is a hormone produced by adipocytes and that has insulin-sensitizing activities.  Its receptors have seven transmembrane domain with a topology inverse that of GPCRs; how these receptors signal is at present poorly understood.  We are studying mutant of these receptors in C. elegans to elucidate how they signal.  This work should lead to the identification of new targets for pharmaceutical intervention in the context of the metabolic syndrome, and provide fundamentally new knowledge about hormonal regulation of metabolism.