Aaron Turkewitz, PhD

A network of membrane-bound organelles, interconnected by dynamic vesicular traffic, is a defining hallmark of eukaryotes. Our laboratory studies membrane traffic in the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila. Our interest in these cells stems from the fact that Tetrahymena is unicellular and offers a host of experimental advantages; the individual cells are remarkably complex and include features that are usually associated with animal cells but absent in fungi. For example, ciliates have a prominent pathway for regulated secretion of polypeptides from specialized vesicles resembling dense core granules. This is in spite of the fact that ciliates are far more distantly related to animals than are most organisms, including yeast, that are commonly studied by cell biologists. We use genetic, cell biological, informatics and biochemical approaches to dissect this and other pathways of membrane trafficking in these remarkable cells.

UCSF
San Francisco, CA
- Cell Biology
1992

Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
Ph.D - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
1988

The secretory pathway in Tetrahymena is organized for efficient constitutive secretion at ciliary pockets.
The secretory pathway in Tetrahymena is organized for efficient constitutive secretion at ciliary pockets. iScience. 2024 Nov 15; 27(11):111123.
PMID: 39498308

Structure and dynamics of the contractile vacuole complex in Tetrahymena thermophila.
Structure and dynamics of the contractile vacuole complex in Tetrahymena thermophila. J Cell Sci. 2023 11 15; 136(22).
PMID: 37902010

VPS8D, a CORVET subunit, is required to maintain the contractile vacuole complex in Tetrahymena thermophila.
VPS8D, a CORVET subunit, is required to maintain the contractile vacuole complex in Tetrahymena thermophila. bioRxiv. 2023 Nov 08.
PMID: 37986963

An apical membrane complex for triggering rhoptry exocytosis and invasion in Toxoplasma.
An apical membrane complex for triggering rhoptry exocytosis and invasion in Toxoplasma. EMBO J. 2022 11 17; 41(22):e111158.
PMID: 36245278

A novel membrane complex is required for docking and regulated exocytosis of lysosome-related organelles in Tetrahymena thermophila.
A novel membrane complex is required for docking and regulated exocytosis of lysosome-related organelles in Tetrahymena thermophila. PLoS Genet. 2022 05; 18(5):e1010194.
PMID: 35587496

An Alveolata secretory machinery adapted to parasite host cell invasion.
An Alveolata secretory machinery adapted to parasite host cell invasion. Nat Microbiol. 2021 04; 6(4):425-434.
PMID: 33495622

ESCargo: a regulatable fluorescent secretory cargo for diverse model organisms.
ESCargo: a regulatable fluorescent secretory cargo for diverse model organisms. Mol Biol Cell. 2020 12 15; 31(26):2892-2903.
PMID: 33112725

The evolution of germ-soma nuclear differentiation in eukaryotic unicells.
The evolution of germ-soma nuclear differentiation in eukaryotic unicells. Curr Biol. 2020 05 18; 30(10):R502-R510.
PMID: 32428490

Publisher Correction: Genetic tool development in marine protists: emerging model organisms for experimental cell biology.
Publisher Correction: Genetic tool development in marine protists: emerging model organisms for experimental cell biology. Nat Methods. 2020 05; 17(5):551.
PMID: 32296171

Genetic tool development in marine protists: emerging model organisms for experimental cell biology.
Genetic tool development in marine protists: emerging model organisms for experimental cell biology. Nat Methods. 2020 05; 17(5):481-494.
PMID: 32251396

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