Blog Layout

The Project Symphony team publishes another research paper of 2022 in peer-reviewed Membrane Biology journal

Sunghee Lee • Sep 02, 2022

The Project Symphony is very proud to publish another peer-reviewed research article! It is the joyful product of our hard work and time spent in the laboratory over Summer 2021. The journal article is titled "Resveratrol decreases membrane water permeability: a study of cholesterol-dependent interactions", in The Journal of Membrane Biology, a Springer Publication.


This paper is coauthored by seven undergraduates, Jasmin Ceja-Vega ('23 Biochemistry), Escarlin Perez ('22 Biochemistry), Patrick Scollan (’21 Chemistry), Juan Rosario (’21 Chemistry), Alondra Gamez Hernandez ('23 Biochemistry), Katherine Ivanchenko (’23 Chemistry), Jamie Gudyka ('24 Biochemistry), under the mentorship of Dr. Sunghee Lee.


Resveratrol (RSV) is a biologically active plant phenol and is found in many foods, including grapes and red wine. It has been suggested that RSV has a broad range of beneficial pharmacological activities for potential therapeutic applications, as an antioxidant and anticarcinogenic agent. This study examines interactions of RSV with model membranes having varying concentrations of cholesterol (Chol), mimicking normal and cancerous cells. The perturbation of the model membrane by RSV is sensed by changes in water permeability parameters, using Droplet Interface Bilayer (DIB) models, thermotropic properties from Differential Scanning Calorimetry, and structural properties from confocal Raman spectroscopy. The nature and extent of interactions greatly depend on the presence and absence of Chol as well as the concentration of RSV. Combined results from these investigations highlight a differential effect of RSV on Chol-free and Chol-enriched membranes. These results provide increased understanding and effective use of resveratrol in disease therapy including cancer. 


Congratulations to the project team!

Celebrating Excellence: The Project Symphony’s Presentations at Iona Scholars Day 2024

By Sunghee Lee • 19 Apr, 2024
I am thrilled to congratulate and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our undergraduate research group, the Project Symphony, at this year's Iona Scholars Day! Our team of dedicated students has worked tirelessly, and their hard work and commitment have truly paid off. The presentations showcased a wide range of impactful research projects that not only demonstrate the academic excellence of our research group members but also their passion for discovery and learning. Each project was a testament to the creativity and hardwork of the Project Symphony research team. One of the most inspiring aspects of the day was seeing how the Project Symphony members engaged with their research topics. Your enthusiasm was contagious, and it was clear that you had developed a deep understanding and appreciation for the chosen fields of topic. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to each member of the Project Symphony members for your exceptional presentations. Your hard work, dedication, and passion for research have truly set you apart, and I am incredibly proud of all that you have accomplished. As I reflect on Iona Scholars Day and look towards the future, I am excited to see where our Project Symphony research group will go next. I have no doubt that you will continue to achieve great things and make meaningful contributions to your field of study. Once again, congratulations to the Project Symphony on a successful Scholars Day! Your hard work, dedication, and passion for research are truly inspiring, and I can't wait to see what you will accomplish next. -Dr. Lee

Exciting News from Project Symphony Research Group: Announcing Our Latest Publication!

By Sunghee Lee • 13 Apr, 2024
We are thrilled to announce the publication of our latest research paper titled "Concentration-Dependent Effects of Curcumin on Membrane Permeability and Structure" in the ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science ( https://doi.org/10.1021/acsptsci.4c00093 ) . This publication represents the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and collaboration within our research group. In this paper, we delve into how phytochemical curcumin interacts with lipid bilayer. Our findings not only contribute to the existing body of knowledge in this field but also have the potential for successful translation of curcumin into effective medicine. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the members of our research group for their invaluable contributions, and NSF for funding support. We look forward to continuing our research efforts and sharing more exciting discoveries in the future. Stay tuned for further updates from our research group! Go Project Symphony!

Journal of Physical Chemistry B has now published our work on the effect of soy isoflavones on the model membranes

By Sunghee Lee • 01 Mar, 2024
The Project Symphony team publishes another research paper in peer-reviewed journal, Journal of Physical Chemistry B The article titled “Differential Effects of Soy Isoflavones on the Biophysical Properties of Model Membranes” is published in Journal of Physical Chemistry B, an American Chemical Society publication. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c08390 This paper is coauthored by nine undergraduates, Jamie Gudyka ('24 Biochemistry), Jasmin Ceja-Vega ('23 Biochemistry), Katherine Ivanchenko (’23 Chemistry), Wilber Perla (’25 Chemistry), Christopher Poust (’25 Chemistry), Alondra Gamez Hernandez ('23 Biochemistry), Colleen Clarke (’23 Chemistry), Shakinah Silverberg (’24 Biology/Chemistry), Escarlin Perez ('22 Biochemistry) with Dr. Sunghee Lee. Congratulations to the Project Symphony!
Show More
Share by: