Dwyer, Jennifer R.
Jennifer is a third year trainee and is in the Molecular Biology IDP. Her research mentor is Dr. Karen Reue. She received a B.S. degree in 2006 from the University of New Hampshire, Durham.
Mentor: Dr. Karen Reue
This research project is focused on characterizing the molecular and physiological functions of Lipin-2 and Lipin-3, members of the lipin protein family. The founding member of this evolutionarily conserved group, Lipin-1, plays a vital role in adipose tissue development and functions as a triglyceride biosynthetic enzyme. While Lipin-2 and Lipin-3 can also perform this enzymatic function, their tissue expression patterns vary greatly from Lipin-1, suggesting similar yet distinct physiological roles for each protein. Interestingly, mutations in human Lipin-2 are responsible for Majeed Syndrome, characterized by anaemia and osteomyelitis, and polymorphisms in human Lipin-2 are correlated with Type 2 Diabetes. Little else is known about the molecular function of Lipin-3. Jennifer is using a combination of knockout mouse models and cellular and molecular approaches to tease apart the unique physiological roles of Lipin-2 and Lipin-3. The role of lipins in lipid metabolism is of general significance due to the number of diseases that are either caused by or complicated by lipid dysregulation.
