This page uses javascript to help render elements, if you have problems please enable javascript.
 
Skip to main content
 
 
 
You are now inside the main content area
 
 

Program Director

Math P. Cuajungco, Ph.D., M.Sc. (First Class Honors)

Office: MH-224E

Phone: 657-278-8522

Email: [email protected]

Dr. Cuajungco is a Professor in the Biological Science department. He earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, working on neuronal zinc metabolism and cytotoxicity. He undertook pre-doctoral and post-doctoral trainings at Harvard Medical School (Massachusetts General Hospital and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary). He also did post-doctoral work at Stanford. He currently studies the function of transmembrane proteins using cutting-edge molecular and cell biology techniques. He is a recipient of research grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF RIG-BP) and National Institutes of Health (NIH R03, R15). He directs the NIH-funded U-RISE Program (T34) and serves as co-PI of a research education grant (NIH R25). He directed the Research Careers Preparatory (RCP) Program (2009-2016) and served as Program Coordinator of the Maximizing Access to Research Careers Program (MARC) from 2016-2022 (NIH T34). He served as an ad-hoc reviewer for NSF, NIH, the National Academy of Sciences and other state or federal funding agencies.

Math Cuajungco photo

Research Interests

Molecular and cellular biology of transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels (Mucolipin subfamily); Transmembrane proteins: TMEM163 (aka ZnT11), TMEM176A, and TMEM176B; Zinc neurobiology and zinc transporters; Metallobiology of Mucolipidosis type IV (MLIV), Hypomyelination Leukodystrophy, and age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Fun Facts

Dr. Cuajungco lived in four countries. His first name came from the initials of his parents' first names, namely: MA (father) plus TH (mother) equals MATH.

Publications

Escobar, A.*, Styrpejko, D.J.#, Ali, S. and Cuajungco, M.P.  (2022) Transmembrane 163 (TMEM163) protein interacts with specific mammalian SLC30 zinc efflux transporter family members, Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports, 32, 101362. *Undergraduate student; #Graduate student

Styrpejko, D.J.# and Cuajungco, M.P.  (2021) Transmembrane 163 (TMEM163) protein: A new zinc member of the zinc efflux transporter family. Biomedicines, 9, 220.  #Graduate student

Ali, S. and Cuajungco, M.P.  (2020) Protocol for quantifying zinc fluxes in cultured cells using fluorescent indicators. STAR Protocols, 1, 100050. 

Sanchez, V.B.*, Ali, S., Escobar, A.*, and Cuajungco, M.P.  (2019) Transmembrane 163 (TMEM163) protein effluxes zinc. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 677, 108166. *Undergraduate student 

Chacon, J.*, Rosas, L.#, and Cuajungco, M.P. (2019) ZnT3 expression levels are down-regulated in the brain of  Mcoln1knockout mice. Molecular Brain,  12, 24. *Undergraduate student;  #Post-bac student 

Valadez, J.A.#  and Cuajungco, M.P. (2015) PAX5 is the transcriptional activator of the Mucolipin-2 (MCOLN2) gene. Gene,   555, 194-202. *Undergraduate student;  #Graduate student 

Cuajungco, M.P., Basilio, L.C.*, Silva, J.*, Hart, T., Tringali, J., Chen, C.C., Biel, M. and Grimm, C. (2014) Cellular zinc levels are modulated by TRPML1-TMEM163 interaction. Traffic,   5, 1247-1265. *Undergraduate student