Megan Merolla-Rasmussen
Iowa State University
Vivian Gama lab
My project focuses on the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein, Mcl-1, and its function in human pluripotent stem cells. In stem cells, we find that Mcl-1 interacts with key regulators of mitochondrial dynamics. This non-canonical role of Mcl-1 may link the processes of apoptosis, mitochondrial structure/function, and metabolism in pluripotent stem cells.