Clare Melchiorre

M.S.- Research Associate

Another of my research projects focuses on the stress response protein metallothionein. Metallothionein acts as a reservoir of heavy metals, protects against oxidative stress, and regulates transcription factor activity. There is evidence of selective release of metallothionein by a nonclassical secretion pathway, and my work focuses on determining that method of secretion. This research could not only uncover another pathway that operates during stressful conditions, but also prove beneficial in a therapeutic manner. In conjunction with my metallothionein trafficking research, I also purify and characterize different anti-metallothionein antibodies that could help aid our understanding of metallothionein functions.