Khalayi Martha Aywa
Education:
B.A Wellesley College (2017)
Current Position:
4th Year MSTP
2nd Year Grad Student
Advisors:
Michael Airola & Yusuf Hannun
Graduate Program:
Biochemistry and Structural Biology
Research Interest:
In general, am interested in protein biochemistry and signaling. My previous research focused on characterizing protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and its cellular targets to understand tumor development.
For my PhD, I am studying neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) enzyme. nSMase2 is the major neutral SMase in mammalian cells for stress-induced generation of ceramide. Ceramide is a bioactive lipid that regulates various cellular processes such as growth arrest, apoptosis, inflammation, cell survival and differentiation. Although nSMase2 is widely expressed in the plasma membrane and Golgi apparatus of many mammalian cell types, its highest expression is in the brain. In particular, nSMase2 has been implicated in extracellular vesicle biogenesis as a critical regulator of exosomes that package and transfer pathogenic factors including metastasis-promoting microRNAs, tau protein and amyloid β. However, major gaps remain in our understanding of the mechanisms by which this enzyme is activated and regulated.
I hope to merge my interests in translational medicine and community health, particularly within underserved populations.
Publications:
TBA
