Wyatt Bordewyk , CBS 2008
Coordinate Glucose Regulation of a Bidirectional Promoter
Major
Biochemistry
Mentors
Howard Towle , Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biophysics
Brief Bio
I'm originally from Sioux Falls, SD. I graduated from Lincoln High School in 2004 and came to the University of Minnesota right after. I'm currently working with the Towle Lab in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics.
Future Plans
I would like to continue doing research in a graduate program, preferably doing my work in bioinformatics.
Why Research?
It was exciting to know that I was researching something that no had ever researched before to gain knowledge about something no one has ever known.
What Did I Get from Research?
I learned more about my major and what directions I could go with it, gained some important networking within my college and also had a great time getting to know people.
How Did I Start?
This project pretty much fell into my hands. I knew the previous undergraduate that would soon be leaving for graduate school and he referred me to Professor Towle.
My research project has been a paid job, a UROP and will soon be done for acedemic credit. Previous research projects were for volunteer opportunity and acedemic credit.
My Advice For Another Student
I would advise them to email as many faculty as possible and to not get disappointed if they get rejected, eventually they will find a faculty member who would be more than happy to give them a project.
Research Summary
I'm currently working with a transcriptional regulator known as the Carbohydrate Response Element Binding Protein (ChREBP) in mammalian cells which activates an entire list of genes under high glucose conditions. My research involves determining whether known glucose responsive genes activate due to ChREBP binding, and obtaining a location of the binding region known as the Carbohydrate Response Element (ChoRE). Once a list of known ChoREs are found, an accurate consensus sequence can be obtained for Bioinformatic analysis of glucose responsive genes to aid the discovery of potential ChoREs in other known glucose responsive genes.