Our Research

Lipid droplets are conserved lipid storage organelles that are critical for energy homeostasis. We recently showed that an increase in lipid droplets is critical for longevity induced by MUFAs. We focus on unravelling the mechanism of how lipid droplets shape tissue and cellular homeostasis to drive longevity. To do this, we use a combination of tissue-specific and dietary manipulations, mass spectrometry and cell biology to understand how lipid droplets drive longevity in a tissue-specific manner.

Organelles rarely act in isolation, and they are in frequent contact with each other to exchange lipids, proteins or metabolites. However, despite their critical role in numerous biological processes, it is largely unknown how aging affects the organelle interaction landscape. We are interested in identifying changes in the organelle interaction landscape with aging and testing if they can be leveraged to promote longevity. We use a combination of genome-wide screening tools, fluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy and protein engineering.

Ether lipids are a specific type of membrane lipid that are biomarkers of aging and often dysregulated in disease. These abundant lipids can constitute up to 20% of all membrane lipids. However, the precise organelle membrane hosting these lipids and their impact on lifespan remains largely unknown. We are interested in determining the cellular localization of ether lipids and unravelling their functional importance in organelles and lifespan regulation. To address these important questions, my lab uses a combination of organelle isolations, biochemistry, mass spectrometry, genetic manipulations and lifespan studies.