Dr. Patrick Lajoie
Associate Professor
PDF Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Ph.D. University of British Columbia
B.Sc. Université du Québec à Montréal
Office: Medical Sciences Building 438
Phone: 519-661-2111 Ext 88220
Fax: 519-661-3936
Email: plajoie3@uwo.ca
Visit: www.lajoielab.com
Research Interests:
Our lab is studying the mechanisms regulating secretory protein homeostasis under both normal and pathological conditions. We focus on understanding how the quality control machinery of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) promotes efficient protein folding under various conditions. Proper folding and quality control of secretory proteins are crucial to cell viability. Accumulation of misfolded proteins can lead to loss of protein function and cell death. Cells activate the unfolded protein response (UPR) to cope with misfolded protein accumulation in the ER, but excessive UPR can trigger apoptosis. UPR activation has been associated with various diseases such as diabetes, Huntington’s disease and cardiac dysfunction. We employ mammalian tissue culture models, yeast genetics, molecular biology, quantitative live cell imaging techniques and high-throughput RNA-SEQ to understand how cells detect, respond and cope with misfolded proteins in both the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the pathogen Candida albicans
Current research interests include:
- The role of protein misfolding stress responses during aging in yeast
- Regulation of the antifungal response in Candida albicans
- Transcriptional regulation during stress
Publications:
For publications, please visit Dr. Lajoie's Google Scholar page or Pub Med page.
