TITLE:

VISUALIZING AND MODELING MITOCHONDRIA AND THEIR ROLES IN PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH (No. 64)

DATE:

Friday, December 10th, 2004

TIME:

3:30 PM

LOCATION:

GMCS 214

SPEAKER:

Terry Frey, Department of Biology, San Diego State University

ABSTRACT:

We have been involved in the application of state-of-the-art microscopy in the study of mitochondrial structure and function. Three-dimensional electron microscopy, electron tomography, has revealed a new paradigm of mitochondrial structure that is now making its way into textbooks, and we have worked to identify common structural features of this new paradigm and to create thermodynamic models of these features. In addition to providing 90% of the chemical energy in ATP used for eukaryotic cell function, mitochondria also play a central role in initiating and/or modulating programmed cell death by a process called Apoptosis. The physiological role of mitochondria in this process can be monitored in four dimensions by scanning fluorescent confocal light microscopy, and we are combining this information with electron microscopy/tomography of the same cells for structural study at high
resolution. I will attempt to bring together these two directions that our
research has taken.

HOST:

Jose Castillo

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