Next Gen Building connections in cells, soils, and labs

Mueller and Kendrick have built their research around connections. For Mueller, those connections are underground, as she explores the mutually beneficial interactions between fungi and plants. For Kendrick, those connections are intracellular, as she investigates how materials and messages are sent from one region of a cell to another, bridging the space between them.

Mueller is figuring out which genes help plants initiate and maintain symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. In her recent study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, she uncovered a new piece of this puzzle that could be used to strengthen fungi-plant connections. Her findings contribute to a global effort to engineer crops that are better hosts for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, with the goal of reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers and increasing agricultural sustainability.

Kendrick’s research is focused on motor proteins, the vehicles that transport items across the cell. Her lab uses advanced imaging tools to investigate their assembly, activity, and communication. One of these tools, called cryogenic electron microscopy, was showcased in her recent study, published in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology. Her findings pave the way for future discoveries on these crucial proteins and how their regulation can prevent or contribute to disease.

These studies are just the beginning for Mueller and Kendrick (pictured above). Both scientists are at the forefront of their disciplines, and their innovative approaches will continue to shape the future of science at Salk and beyond.