ӳ����ý

Judy 
Revere High School
Revere, MA

Mentors: 
Lakshanyaa Kannan & Todd Yau
Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research | Pan Lab
 

Judy entered BSSP eager to understand how small genetic changes could impact brain biology. In the Stanley Center, she investigated the K820T variant of NR3C2, which encodes the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) — a key regulator of stress response and a gene linked to psychiatric disorders.

She cultured HEK293-Trex cells, transfected NR3C2 variant plasmids into cells, and measured MR protein expression of the K820T variant with Western blotting. She then used luciferase reporter assays to examine hormone-binding activity.

Her findings showed that K820T produced similar amounts of MR protein and hormone-binding activity as wild type, suggesting the mutation has minimal functional impact under the tested conditions.

Through the project, Judy honed her skills in mammalian cell culture, molecular assays, and data interpretation, while learning the iterative nature of scientific investigation. Her work provides a crucial reference point for ongoing efforts at the Stanley Center to determine which genetic variants truly alter receptor function, informing how psychiatric risk genes are prioritized for deeper study.“Thanks to BSSP, I was able to engage in hands-on learning in the lab… and confidently perform cell culture, transfections, and Western blots,” she reflected.