Loren Stagg

Graduate Student
Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Research Project: Assessing how the crowded environment of the cell may affect protein structure and stability

A native of Kinder, Louisiana, Loren Stagg is currently conducting research on proteins in Pernilla Wittung-Stafshede’s lab. He describes his current research project: “I am assessing how the crowded environment of the cell may affect protein structure and stability. Our lab is a protein folding lab which means that we study how proteins (long chains of amino acids) rearrange into characteristic three-dimensional structures. Most protein folding studies are undertaken by monitoring the protein of interest in a pure form in a dilute buffer solution. However, in living organisms, these same proteins are forced to fold and function in cells that are crowded with many other biological structures (organelles, other proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates, etc.) that take up about 40% of the available volume of the cell. I am using synthetic sugar polymers to “crowd” my protein of interest (flavodoxin) and assessing the effects of crowding on the protein (structure, stability, rates of folding/unfolding, etc.) using a variety of spectroscopic methods. Proteins are often the target of drugs, and studying the native structure of these proteins can in many cases aid in drug design. In addition, many diseases (especially neurological diseases) have been found to be caused by misfolded proteins. By accumulating knowledge on protein folding, we will be more proficient in the future at understanding the causes of these diseases and hopefully more successful in treating them.”

Dr. Wittung-Stafshede is delighted to have Loren in her lab. She states, “Loren works on a very timely project and has already made some novel discoveries that will likely change the way we think about protein behavior inside cells. I was very happy when Loren joined my lab, in part because I also spent time in New Orleans (as professor at Tulane), and because he is simply a great and smart guy.”

Stagg earned his undergraduate degree from Louisiana College. He is a die-hard LSU football and St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan.

Why Rice? Stagg chose Rice due to its excellent reputation on a national scale and exciting research in his department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology. “Rice’s existence as a big, picturesque campus right in the heart of Houston has always been pleasantly surprising,” he says, adding, “I really like catching baseball games at Reckling Park and Minute Maid Park whenever I can and spending time in the Village when the weather’s nice.” 

Stagg’s dream job? Starting shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals.
 
His favorite weblinks:
www.tigerdroppings.com
www.stlcardinals.com
www.cnn.com
www.espn.com
www.facebook.com