Columbia University in the City of New York · BiologyThe Mitochondrial Quality Lab
Liza A Pon · New York, New York
Research Focus
Dr. Liza A Pon's lab at Columbia University focuses on understanding how proteins are properly synthesized, folded, and degraded within cells, particularly in the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. They investigate the processes that maintain protein quality control, which is crucial for preventing diseases related to protein misfolding, such as neurodegenerative disorders and muscular dystrophy. Through their research, they aim to uncover new mechanisms that might help in treating these serious health conditions.
protein foldingmitochondrial quality controlER-associated degradationautophagycongenital muscular dystrophyprotein aggregationcellular fitnessagingneurodegenerative diseaseslipid droplets
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the mechanisms of mitochondrial proteostasis through MAD.
AIM 02Identify physiological consequences of impaired mitochondrial quality control.
AIM 03Explore a novel ER proteostasis pathway and its role in stress response.
AIM 04Characterize the functions of lipid droplets in protein degradation.
AIM 05Develop potential treatment targets for congenital muscular dystrophy.
Skills the Lab Values
protein extractionWestern blotcell culturein vitro reconstitution assaysimmunofluorescence microscopygenetic manipulation in yeastautophagy assaysbiochemical pathway analysislipid droplet analysisprotein ubiquitination
Output against the department
Publications112bottom 39% of dept.626th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations7.1kbottom 49% of dept.529th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.