Dr Janet Deane

Interests

We study the role of lipid processing pathways in demyelinating neurodegenerative disease. We are interested in how the composition of cellular membranes is maintained and what the effects are when this composition is altered. Lipids and proteins need to be correctly trafficked between intracellular compartments and the plasma membrane. This trafficking includes the synthesis of new components and the degradation of old components. The severe, early-onset neurodegenerative disorder, Krabbe disease is caused by a defect in the ability to degrade essential lipids in the lysosome. This fatal disease is characterised by very early-onset demyelination and neurodegeneration. We are using a range of molecular andcellular approaches to understand the underlying mechanisms of demyelination in Krabbe disease.

Research Focus

Equipment

Cell culture

Confocal microscopy

Enzyme assays

Fluorescence microscopy

Protein purification

Recombinant protein expression

X-ray crystallography