Molecular determinants of cardiolipin signalling in mitochondria

My research focusses on mitochondria, important components of our cells. Mitochondria have two membranes, separating them from the rest of the cell; an inner, folded membrane and an outer membrane. The way these two membranes interact has critical roles in human health and disease, and dysregulation of these processes has been linked to neurodegenerative disorders, cardiomyopathy and neurological disease.

My group are building 3D, dynamic models of mitochondria by using computational simulations alongside experimental approaches including cryo-electron tomography. This programme represents a comprehensive, multidisciplinary molecular level study of both membranes of the mitochondria and how they behave in concert and will give us new understanding of how we might control these pathways.

The new understanding generated by my research programme will be applied to study other related pathways and, long-term, will be expected to lead to potential new drug targets in mitochondrial quality control pathways. Advancements in understanding membrane protein-lipid interactions in general will also have implications for the advancement of drug discovery programmes.