Biological Sciences
Dr. Wendy Ransom-Hodgkins
Assistant Professor
E-mail:W.Ransom-Hodgkins@wmich.edu
Office: 3149
Wood Hall
Lab: 3458 Haenicke Hall
Office Phone: 269-387-2084
Lab phone: 269-387-2102
Research Description
Area of Research: Plant Cell
My
research focuses on understanding the regulation of the multi-functional
protein Elongation Factor 1 Alpha (EF1A) in the cell. EF1A is
involved in protein biosynthesis, protein degradation, binding
the actin cytoskeleton, and activating a signal transduction pathway.
How one protein maybe involved in all of these functions in a
cell is not understood at this time. During my Ph.D., I characterized
a unique modification of EF1A and investigated how this modification
might regulate the function of the protein. I am currently continuing
this work using genetics, molecular biology, and biochemical techniques
in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana. My laboratory's long term goal
will be to gain a greater understanding of how a master protein
such as EF1A can regulate many of the essential functions in a
cell. The understanding of such a master protein will have profound
implications in the areas of cell growth and division and cancer.