My research focuses on using Drosophila as a model to understand the biological significance of Palmitoyl Protein Thioesterase 1 and 2 (Ppt1 and Ppt2) during neural development. The research has biomedical significance since defective human PPT1 leads to a fatal pediatric disorder called infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL). The disease is characterized by progressive deterioration of the visual and central nervous system, and the accumulation of unwanted autofluorescent storage materials in the brain.
Quynh Chu-LaGraff
Job Title
Professor of Biological Sciences
Director of Neuroscience
Research interests
Representative publications:
- Glaser, R., Hickey, A., Chotkowski, and Chu-LaGraff, Q. (2003). Characterization of Drosophila palmitoyl protein thioesterase 1. Gene 312:271-9.
- Chu-LaGraff, Q., Kang, X.W., Messer, A. (2001). Expression of the Huntington’s Disease transgene in neural stem cell cultures from R6/2 transgenic mice. Brain Research Bulletin 56(3-4):307-12.