Nicholas Zumwalde

E-mail: zumwa007@umn.edu

Year entered: 2007

Degree received:
B.S., Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2007

Thesis research:
T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling induced via cognate antigen recognition results in the activation of T-cells. These activation signaling cascades are complex and new models are constantly evolving in accordance with the identification of novel components and their activities. One constituent of these signaling pathways is the adhesion and degranulation-promoting adapter protein (ADAP). ADAP is a positive regulator of T-cell activation, as well as, integrin-mediated adhesion. Recent publications have denoted the effects of ADAP deficiency in CD4+ T-cells, but questions remain in regards to CD8+ T-cells.

My research seeks to elucidate the relationship between ADAP and CD8+ T-cell function; namely, the roles ADAP may play in the activity of cytotoxic killer T-cells and memory cells. Due to current literature postulating that lymphocytes partake in asymmetric division, it is also of interest to understand the functionality of ADAP in the initial proliferative stages following TCR stimulation.