Education

• B.S. – University of Maryland, College Park
• Ph.D. – Washington University in St. Louis
• Postdoctoral – Washington University in St. Louis

Teaching

• BISC300: Introduction to Microbiology
• BISC485/685: Microbial Genetics

Research Interests

​Cytochromes c are highly conserved proteins found in humans, other eukaryotes, plants, bacteria and Archaea. Their diverse functions and roles in electron transport chains for respiration and photosynthesis are well studied. However, their biogenesis is less well understood, representing a fundamental biological question and the focus of our research. Cytochrome c biogenesis requires covalent heme attachment via two thioether bonds between the heme vinyls and cysteine thiols at a conserved CXXCH motif (Fig. 1). The requirement for heme attachment makes cytochromes c unique among the cytochromes and is generally agreed to provide high stability and unique properties. Despite their diverse functions and roles in the cell, all cytochromes c are biosynthesized by one of three pathways, termed System I (α, γ Proteobacteria; plant and protozoal mitochondria; Archaea; Fig. 2A), System II (Gram +; cyanobacteria; chloroplasts; ε Proteobacteria; Fig. 2B) and System III (eukaryotic mitochondria, composed of a single enzyme called HCCS). The Sutherland lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms of heme trafficking and attachment in Systems I and II.

Current Projects

Utilizing a recombinant E. coli system for Systems I and II, these integral membrane proteins are affinity tagged, purify with endogenous heme and are functional, allowing for biochemical and genetic studies of these pathways. The Sutherland Lab focuses on the following fundamental questions:

• How is heme trafficked by these pathways?
• Can heme binding domains be identified?
• What are the requirements for heme attachment to the cytochrome c CXXCH motif?

Research Group

• Nikita Varde, PhD Candidate in Biological Sciences
• Allison Mattern, PhD Candidate in Biological Sciences, CBI Fellow
• Raymond Tsao, PhD Candidate in Microbiology
• Raisa Sumaiya, PhD Candidate in Biological Sciences, CBI Fellow
• Susan Carroll, RA
• Evelyn McQuaid, undergraduate, NSF REU Fellow
• Tim Heppard, undergraduate