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

Professor of Biological Science

Office: MH-224E, Lab: DBH-125

Office phone: 657-278-8522, Lab Phone: 657-278-3481

Dr. Cuajungco 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 a co-PI of a research education grant (NIH R25).

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 (HLD), and age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Fun Facts

Dr. Cuajungco lived in four countries. His first name came from the first 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