Research Interests

Protein translocation across biological membranes, with a focus on chloroplast membranes. Mechanism of multimeric protein complex assembly. Chloroplast bioenergetics.

The current objectives of the research in the Theg lab are to understand the events surrounding the transport of proteins across biological membranes and their assembly into larger multimeric complexes. Most of the laboratory's efforts focus on protein trafficking and assembly in chloroplasts isolated from higher plants (often peas, but also Arabidopsis and N. benthamiana). 

These organelles represent an excellent model system in which to study cellular protein targeting as they are easily separated from other organelles, and retain a high level of metabolic activity after isolation. In addition, they contain a level of structural complexity that requires additional sorting of proteins within the organelle. In these sorting reactions, chloroplasts utilize different protein targeting paradigms which are individually used by other organelles. Consequently, lessons learned from the study of protein targeting to and within chloroplasts can be applied to a number of other polypeptide translocating systems.

We have also made recent forrays into the mechanism of thylakoid division and the biochemistry of stromule formation.

Graduate Program Affiliations

• Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Graduate Group
• Biophysics Graduate Group
• Plant Biology Graduate Group