Agricultural and Life Sciences (IFAS)
Maupin-Furlow Lab
Led by Julie A. Maupin-Furlow · Microbiology and Cell Science
What we study
The Maupin-Furlow Lab studies extremophiles (Archaea) in harsh environments, using techniques like proteomics and biocatalysis to understand their biology and develop sustainable industrial processes.
What working here is like
- Wet lab
- Computational
- Bacteria & microbes
- Cells in a dish
- Coding helps
- Projects
- 9
- Papers
- 5
Current projects
Project ∆pat2 mutant carbon-source dependent flocculation phenotype in Haloferax volcanii
The lab examines how removing the Pat2 enzyme affects growth of the salt‑loving microbe Haloferax volcanii on glycerol versus other sugars. The student will grow mutant and normal cells, measure growth curves, and test if adding back Pat2 restores growth.
From the Spring 2025 UF Undergraduate Research Symposium · abstract book, p. 599
Project Identification and Characterization of a Novel Protein: Investigating its Role as a Substrate or Regulator of Pat2
The lab studies a new protein that may work with the enzyme Pat2 in the archaeon Haloferax volcanii. Students will use mass spectrometry to identify the protein, then plan to delete it and grow the cells to see how it affects growth and energy use.
From the Spring 2025 UF Undergraduate Research Symposium · abstract book, p. 443
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Biomolecular Condensates in Archaea: Insights from RecJ3/4-aRNase J
The lab studies how certain proteins in salt-loving archaea form membrane‑less compartments that help repair DNA. Students will create fluorescently tagged proteins and use microscopes to see where they localize in the cells.
From the Spring 2025 UF Undergraduate Research Symposium · abstract book, p. 382
Identification and Characterization of a Novel Protein: Investigating its Role as a Substrate or Regulator of Pat2
The lab works with the salt‑loving microbe Haloferax volcanii to understand how proteins are chemically modified after they are made. The student used mass‑spectrometry and computer analysis to discover an unknown protein that co‑purified with a mutant enzyme, marking the first step toward learning its function. Future work will delete the gene and measure growth curves.
From the Spring 2025 UF Undergraduate Research Symposium · abstract book, p. 213
Genetic and biochemical characterization of a urease from a hypersaline-adapted archaeon, Haloferax volcanii
The study compared a wild‑type Haloferax volcanii strain to a ΔureC mutant. The mutant could not grow on urea, proving ureC is essential. The UreC protein was expressed with a His‑tag, purified, and shown to be 60 kDa by SDS‑PAGE.
From the Spring 2025 UF Undergraduate Research Symposium · abstract book, p. 185
DNA Binding of Orc1 Homologs of Haloferax volcanii
The project uses microscale thermophoresis, DNA footprinting and AlphaFold predictions to map where Orc1 proteins bind DNA and how strongly they bind in the halophilic archaeon Haloferax volcanii, which grows in 2‑hour generations. Future work will confirm binding locations and assess effects on DNA replication.
From the Spring 2025 UF Undergraduate Research Symposium · abstract book, p. 181
Gene Expression Analysis of Urease and Carotenoid Biosynthesis Pathways in Haloferax volcanii
The lab examines how the salt‑tolerant microbe Haloferax volcanii turns urea into useful chemicals and how it makes colorful pigments. Students grow the organism with different nitrogen sources and measure gene activity and pigment levels.
From the Spring 2025 UF Undergraduate Research Symposium · abstract book, p. 166
Significance of Lysine Acetylation on the Electron Transport Protein, 2Fe-2S Ferredoxin, in Haloferax volcanii via Site-Directed Mutagenesis
The lab studies a protein that helps transfer electrons in a salt-loving microbe. Students change specific spots on the protein to see how a chemical tag affects its function.
From the Spring 2025 UF Undergraduate Research Symposium · abstract book, p. 138
Proteasome assembly chaperone homolog PbaB and its role in Archaea
The project looks at how proteins that help build the cell’s protein‑degrading machine work in ancient single‑cell organisms. By comparing two similar proteins, the lab learns how a specific tail sequence affects the assembly process.
From the Spring 2025 UF Undergraduate Research Symposium · abstract book, p. 98
Summaries are written by AI in plain language from public symposium abstracts and may be imperfect.
Recent papers, explained
- Integration of ploidy, Orc1/Cdc6 homolog function, and lysine acetylation with phosphate limitation and UV stress responses of Haloferax volcanii
2026 · Extremophiles
Tests how phosphate levels, UV stress, and Orc1/Cdc6 homologs affect growth and ploidy in Haloferax volcanii.
- Microbial conversion of biodiesel waste for carotenoid production
2026 · Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
Uses a microbe to turn biodiesel waste into valuable pigments.
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- GNAT family Pat2 is required for long-term survival on glycerol and catalyzes lysine acetylation of glycerol kinase in hypersaline-adapted archaea
2025 · mBio
Finds that Pat2 is needed for glycerol survival and acetylates glycerol kinase in Haloferax volcanii.
- Dynamic acetylation of a conserved lysine impacts glycerol kinase activity and abundance in the haloarchaeon Haloferax volcanii
2025 · Journal of Biological Chemistry
Shows how lysine acetylation boosts glycerol kinase activity and abundance in Haloferax volcanii.
- Biochemical properties of glycerol kinase from the hypersaline-adapted archaeon Haloferax volcanii
2025 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Studies glycerol kinase from Haloferax volcanii for potential industrial use.
Plain-language summaries are AI-written and reviewed by us; check the paper for details.
How to reach out
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