User:Lawrence Kazak
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Current research
I am currently a Post-doctoral Fellow at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School. I work in the lab of Dr. Bruce M. Spiegelman. I am investigating the regulation of adaptive thermogenesis by adipose tissue, using a combination of approaches including quantitative proteomics, biochemistry, genetics, and computational biology. I am interested in identifying mechanisms that regulate whole body metabolism. My future aim is to lead my own group in the area of energy metabolism.
Past research
I originally trained in the area of exercise and skeletal muscle physiology during my undergraduate and MSc degrees. My PhD was carried out at the University of Cambridge in the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, under the supervision of Dr. Ian J. Holt (Mitochondrial Diseases). Over the course of my PhD, I used the tools of molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry to understand the mechanisms that regulate mammalian mitochondrial DNA replication and the targeting of proteins to mitochondria via alternative translation initiation.
Education
- 2013-present, Post-doctorate, Cell Biology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA Dr. Bruce M. Spiegelman
- 2008-2013, PhD, Biological Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK Dr. Ian J. Holt
- 2005-2008, MSc, Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, Canada. Supervisor: David A. Hood
- 2001-2005, BA, York University, Toronto, Canada
Research interests
- Energy Metabolism
- Mitochondrial Biology
- Adipogenesis
- Genetics
- Exercise Physiology
Selected Publications
1. Kazak L, Reyes A, He J, Brea-Calvo G, Wood SR, Holen TT, and Holt IJ. A cryptic targeting signal creates a mitochondrial FEN1 isoform with tailed R-loop binding properties. Plos One. 2013. Epub ahead of print. [1]
2. Reyes A, Kazak L, Wood SR, Yasukawa T, Jacbos HT, and Holt IJ. Mitochondrial DNA Replication Proceeds via a ‘Bootlace’ Mechanism Involving the Incorporation of Processed Transcripts. Nucleic Acids Res. 2013. Epub ahead of print. [2]
3. Kazak L, Reyes A, Duncan A, Rorbach J, Wood SR, Brea-Calvo G, Gammage P, Robinson AJ, Minczuk M, and Holt IJ. Alternative translation initiation augments the human mitochondrial proteome. Nucleic Acids Res. 2013. Feb 1;41(4):2354-69. [3]
4. Kazak L, Reyes A, Holt IJ. Minimizing the damage: repair pathways keep mitochondrial DNA intact. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2012. Oct;13(10):659-71. [4]
5. He J, Cooper HM, Reyes A, Di Re M, Kazak L, Wood SR, Mao CC, Fearnley IM, Walker JE, Holt IJ. Human C4orf14 interacts with the mitochondrial nucleoid and is involved in the biogenesis of the small mitochondrial ribosomal subunit. Nucleic Acids Res. 2012. Jul;40(13):6097-108. [5]
6. Reyes A, He J, Mao CC, Bailey LJ, Di Re M, Sembongi H, Kazak L, Dzionek K, Holmes JB, Cluett TJ, Harbour ME, Fearnley IM, Crouch RJ, Conti MA, Adelstein RS, Walker JE, Holt IJ. Actin and myosin contribute to mammalian mitochondrial DNA maintenance. Nucleic Acids Res. 2011. Jul;39(12):5098-108. [6]
