MCB Program Start:
2018
Undergrad:
BS, Biology, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, 2015
Twitter Account:
@aarontbyrd
Research Advisor and Department:
Dr. Ross Buchan, MCB
Research Topic:
ALS is an invariably-fatal disease affecting motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord. Greater than 97% of ALS cases are marked by the cytoplasmic mis-localization of the RNA-binding protein, TDP-43. This mis-localization, and potentially aggregation, is considered a toxic gain-of-function and clearance of this toxic cytoplasmic species could potentially be a valuable therapeutic target. Therefore, my research focuses on characterizing a novel mechanism of cytoplasmic TDP-43 clearance that seems to heavily rely on the endocytosis machinery. Elucidation of this mechanism of TDP-43 clearance will give us a greater understanding of how cellular toxicity is conferred in ALS and provide novel therapeutic targets.
Lab Rotations:
Dr. Ross Buchan
Dr. Andrew Paek
Dr. Tim Bolger
Honors and Awards:
2018-2019 MCB Training Grant Appointee
Outreach Activities:
Associate Graduate Council for the College of Science- Co-Vice President
UofA oSTEM
Publications:
Naik AK, Byrd AT, Lucander ACK, Krangel MS. Hierarchical assembly and disassembly of a transcriptionally active RAG locus in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes. J Exp Med. 2019 Jan 7;216(1):231-243. doi: 10.1084/jem.20181402.
Chen S, Luperchio TR, Wong X, Doan EB, Byrd AT, Roy Choudhury K, Reddy KL, Krangel MS. A Lamina-Associated Domain Border Governs Nuclear Lamina Interactions, Transcription, and Recombination of the Tcrb Locus. Cell Rep. 2018 Nov 13;25(7):1729-1740.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.10.052.
Farizatto KLG, McEwan SA, Naidoo V, Nikas SP, Shukla VG, Almeida MF, Byrd A, Romine H, Karanian DA, Makriyannis A, Bahr BA. Inhibitor of Endocannabinoid Deactivation Protects Against In Vitro and In Vivo Neurotoxic Effects of Paraoxon. J Mol Neurosci. 2017 Sep;63(1):115-122. doi: 10.1007/s12031-017-0963-4.