Donna M. Gordon
		Assistant Professor
		Education B.S. Biology/Genetics, Pennsylvania State University Ph.D. Cell & Molecular Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Postdoctoral Research University of Pennsylvania University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
				Contact Information
		Statement of Research Interests		112 Harned Hall 662.325.7939 Fax dg300@msstate.edu Lab Web Page
		From yeast to humans, mitochondria form a dynamic interconnected network that provides an efficient system to transfer energy between different areas of the cell.  The number and morphology of mitochondria within a cell are controlled by precisely regulated rates of organelle fusion and fission.  Mitochondrial fusion is a complex process involving the joining of both the outer and inner membranes of two adjacent mitochondria in a highly coordinated and accurate manner.  Perturbations in fusion result in mitochondrial fragmentation, loss of mitochondrial DNA, defects in mitochondrial membrane potential and respiration, and poor growth.  In the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a number of proteins have been identified for their role in the maintenance of ‘normal’ mitochondrial morphology.  Our work focuses on Pcp1p, a mitochondrial peptidase shown to be involved in the proteolytic processing of the mitochondrial ‘fusion’ protein Mgm1p.  Little is known about the molecular mechanism of Pcp1p mediated proteolytic cleavage or the identity of additional Pcp1p substrate proteins.  Using genetic, biochemical and cell biological approaches the lab aims to elucidate the role of the Pcp1p protease in mitochondrial dynamics and functions.
		Selected Publications
		Gordon, D. M., Amutha, B., Gu, Y., Dancis, A., and Pain, D. (2007).  GTP is required for iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis in mitochondria.  Submitted.
		Gordon, D. M., Lyver, E., Lesuisse, E., Dancis, A., and Pain, D. (2006).  GTP in the mitochondrial matrix plays a crucial role in organellar iron homeostasis. Biochem. J. 400(1):163-168.
		Gu, Y., Gordon, D. M., Amutha, B., and Pain, D., (2005).  A GTP:AMP phosphotransferase, Adk2p, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae:  Role of the C terminus in protein folding/stabilization, thermal tolerance, and enzymatic activity.  J. Biol Chem. 280:  18604-18609.
		Amutha, B., Gordon, D. M., Gu, Y., and Pain, D. (2004).  A novel role of Mgm1p, a dynamin-related GTPase, in ATP synthase assembly and cristae formation/maintenance.  Biochem. J. 381: 19-23.
Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, 130 Harned Hall, Lee Blvd., Mississippi State, MS 39762