Research

The Murdoch Lab investigates how nutrient metals, essential yet potentially toxic elements, shape cellular function, development, and health. Within cells, metals bind to proteins to form metalloproteins, which are critical for processes such as enzymatic catalysis, structural stability, and electron transport. These proteins are central to key biological functions including respiration, transcription, signal transduction, and cell proliferation. Because trace metals must be tightly regulated, organisms rely on intricate systems to control their uptake, utilization, storage, and export. Disruptions in this balance can lead to developmental abnormalities and diseases such as neurodegeneration, cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease. Importantly, since metals are absorbed through the gut, diet and the gut microbiota play major roles in determining their bio-availability and distribution. The Murdoch Lab integrates molecular biology, genetics, neuroscience, and host-microbe interaction approaches across diverse model systems, such as zebrafish and mammalian cell culture, to explore three central questions:

• What genetic and cellular mechanisms maintain metal homeostasis in animals?
• How does metal metabolism influence neuronal development and animal behavior?
• What environmental factors regulate the uptake and utilization of dietary metals?