Jeff Coleman, PhD

My research focuses on calcium-regulated exocytosis. In particular, I'm studying the molecular mechanism by which regulatory proteins, such as Complexins and Synaptotagmins, couple the SNARE-mediated membrane fusion to calcium influx. By using site-directed mutagenesis, I will screen residues that either positively or negatively regulate the fusion reaction. These mutants will be tested using two in vitro fusion assays developed in the lab: the liposome fusion assay and the flipped-SNARE cell fusion assay. With these results I hope to increase our understanding of the minimal machinery required for calcium-regulated fusion.