Name: Ethan Lettich
Major(s): Biochemistry and Spanish
Research Location: University of Notre Dame
Ethan worked in Dr. Patricia Clark's laboratory, which focuses on how proteins fold within the cell. This folding can occur co-translationally, which means as the protein is translated from the messenger RNA (mRNA), it begins to fold on the ribosome. His research focuses on how different E. coli cell lines affect the stalling of the mRNA on the ribosome, allowing for the study of the co-translational folding and assembly of proteins. Ethan's preliminary results indicate that the cell line may not have a large impact on the folding and assembly of these proteins, and it may be more dependent on the mRNA sequence.
Ethan says, "Participating in Dr. Patricia Clark's lab allowed me to explore how research begins at the bench. As I intend to go to medical school, it may be easy to prescribe drugs without appreciating the intricate interactions with proteins in the body. However, my experience in the lab has taught me how important these interactions are to a patient's health."