Assistant Professor

B.S., Cell Biology, Univeridad Simon Bolivar, Caracas, Venezuela, 1990
M.S., Biochemistry, Univeridad Simon Bolivar, Caracas, Venezuela, 1992
Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Health Sciences Center, Syracuse, New York, 1999
Ph.D., SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 1998
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, 2000
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, 2004
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, 2007

HONORS

The John Bernard Henry, MD Endowed Scholarship Award, Graduate School of SUNY Health Science Center, 1998
National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, 2003
Ball State University Outstanding Junior Faculty Award, 2005

Office: Biomedical Research Facility Building, room G23F
Telephone: (505) 272-1633
E-mail: KJParra@salud.unm.edu

RESEARCH INTEREST

Our lab studies structures, cellular functions, and regulation of V-type ATPase pumps (V-ATPases). V-ATPases are large protein complexes (~950 kDa) present at the ER, Golgi, lysosomal/vacuolar and plasma membranes where they work as molecular rotors that pump protons. Organelle and extracellular acidification by V-ATPases are critical for zymogen activation, endocytosis, autophagy, apoptosis, neurotransmitter sequestration, urinary acidification, bone resorption, and sperm maturation. Given the scope and array of physiological processes that depend on V-ATPase function, it is not surprising that theses distinctive pumps are essential to sustain life.

STUDENT PROJECTS

Functional Analysis by Mutagenesis and Overexpression of V-ATPase Subunits. These projects are aimed to help us understand the mechanisms that structurally and functionally couple ATP hydrolysis and proton transport during catalysis.

Characterization of the Cellular Signals Regulating V-ATPase Complexes. The long-term goal of these studies is to obtain a comprehensive picture of the signaling and metabolic pathways that regulate V-ATPase function and assembly during nutritional stress.

Structural Studies of the Membrane-bound Domain. These studies are aimed at a greater understanding of the mechanisms that control proton transport. Detailed structures of the elements that switch on and off rotation of subunits at the membrane will be determined.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Margaret A. Owegi, Sarah Bilbo, Donald Pappas Jr., Marck Finch, Aswathy Warrier, Kathryn McCulloch, John Trombley, Katrina Margalef, and Karlett Parra. The C-end of the Yeast V-ATPase Subunit d is Essential for V-ATPase Function. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 281(40), 30001-30014.

Margaret A. Owegi, Anne Carenbauer, Nicole Wick, Jamie Brown, Kari Terhune, Sarah Bilbo,
Rebecca Weaver, Rebecca Shircliff, Natalia Newcomb, and Karlett Parra-Belky. Mutagenesis Analysis of the Stator Subunit E of the Yeast V-ATPase. J. Biol. Chem. 280,18393-402 (2005).

Karlett Parra-Belky, Kathryn McCulloch, Nicole Wick, Rebecca Shircliff, Nicolas Croft, Katrina
Margalef Jamie Brown, Todd Crabill, Ryan Jankord, and Eric Waldo. “Immunoprecipitation of Protein Complexes fromYeast”. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. 33, 289-292 (2005).

Parra-Belky, Karlett. Identification of Yeast V-ATPase  Mutants by Western Blots Analysis of Whole Cell Lysates. Journal of Chemical Education. 79,1348-1350 (2002).

Parra, K. J., K. Keenan, and P. M. Kane. "The H Subunit (Vma13p) Of The Yeast V-ATPase Inhibits The ATPase Activity Of Cytosolic V1 Complexes". J. Biol. Chem. 275: 21761-21767 (2000).

Kane, P. M., and K. J. Parra. "Assembly and Regulation Of The Yeast Vacuolar ATPase". J. Exp. Biol. 203:81-87 (2000).

Parra, K. J., and P. M. Kane. "Reversible Association Between The V1 And Vo Domains Of The Yeast Vacuolar H+-ATPase Is An Unconventional Glucose-Induced Effect". Mol. Cell. Biol.18:7064-7074 (1998).  

Zhang, J., K. J. Parra, J. Liu, and P. M. Kane. "Characterization Of A Temperature-Sensitive Vacuolar ATPase Mutant With Defects In Bud Morphology And Cytokinesis". J. Biol. Chem. 273:18470-18480 (1998).

Parra, K. J., and P.  M. Kane. "Wild-type And Mutant Vacuolar Membranes Support pH-Dependent Reassembly Of The Yeast Vacuolar H+-ATPase In Vitro ". J. Biol. Chem. 271:19592-9598 (1996).