Elma Zaganjor, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

elma.zaganjor@vanderbilt.edu

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Faculty Appointments
Assistant Professor of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics
Education
Ph.D., Cell Regulation, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TexasB.A., Natural Science, Fordham University, Bronx, New York
Office Address
754A Robinson Research Building
Nashville, TN 37232
Research Description
The Zaganjor laboratory focuses on exploring the impact of mitochondrial function and metabolism on cell fate decisions and their relevance to physiology. Our research delves into understanding how obesity and environmental factors disrupt metabolism, consequently contributing to the development of diverse diseases, such as diabetes and cancer.
Research Keywords
diabetes, cancer, metabolism, mitochondria, obesity
Publications
Shinde AB, Nunn ER, Wilson GA, Chvasta MT, Pinette JA, Myers JW, Peck SH, Spinelli JB, Zaganjor E. Inhibition of nucleotide biosynthesis disrupts lipid accumulation and adipogenesis. J Biol Chem [print-electronic]. 2023 May; 299(5): 104635. PMID: 36963490, PMCID: PMC10149209, PII: S0021-9258(23)00277-6, DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104635, ISSN: 1083-351X.

Spinelli JB, Zaganjor E. Mitochondrial efficiency directs cell fate. Nat Cell Biol. 2022 Feb; 24(2): 125-6. PMID: 35165414, PII: 10.1038/s41556-021-00834-3, DOI: 10.1038/s41556-021-00834-3, ISSN: 1476-4679.

Nunn ER, Shinde AB, Zaganjor E. Weighing in on Adipogenesis. Front Physiol. 2022; 13: 821278. PMID: 35283790, PMCID: PMC8914022, DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.821278, ISSN: 1664-042X.

Shinde AB, Zaganjor E. AdipoAtlas: Mapping out human white adipose tissue. Cell Rep Med. 2021 Oct 10/19/2021; 2(10): 100429. PMID: 34755140, PMCID: PMC8561306, PII: S2666-3791(21)00291-3, DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100429, ISSN: 2666-3791.

Oren Y, Tsabar M, Cuoco MS, Amir-Zilberstein L, Cabanos HF, Hütter JC, Hu B, Thakore PI, Tabaka M, Fulco CP, Colgan W, Cuevas BM, Hurvitz SA, Slamon DJ, Deik A, Pierce KA, Clish C, Hata AN, Zaganjor E, Lahav G, Politi K, Brugge JS, Regev A. Cycling cancer persister cells arise from lineages with distinct programs. Nature [print-electronic]. 2021 Aug; 596(7873): 576-82. PMID: 34381210, PMCID: PMC9209846, PII: 10.1038/s41586-021-03796-6, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03796-6, ISSN: 1476-4687.

Zaganjor E, Yoon H, Spinelli JB, Nunn ER, Laurent G, Keskinidis P, Sivaloganathan S, Joshi S, Notarangelo G, Mulei S, Chvasta MT, Tucker SA, Kalafut K, van de Ven RAH, Clish CB, Haigis MC. SIRT4 is an early regulator of branched-chain amino acid catabolism that promotes adipogenesis. Cell Rep. 2021 Jul 7/13/2021; 36(2): 109345. PMID: 34260923, PII: S2211-1247(21)00721-X, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109345, ISSN: 2211-1247.

Yoon H, Spinelli JB, Zaganjor E, Wong SJ, German NJ, Randall EC, Dean A, Clermont A, Paulo JA, Garcia D, Li H, Rombold O, Agar NYR, Goodyear LJ, Shaw RJ, Gygi SP, Auwerx J, Haigis MC. PHD3 Loss Promotes Exercise Capacity and Fat Oxidation in Skeletal Muscle. Cell Metab [print-electronic]. 2020 Aug 8/4/2020; 32(2): 215-228.e7. PMID: 32663458, PII: S1550-4131(20)30318-1, DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2020.06.017, ISSN: 1932-7420.

Qiao S, Koh SB, Vivekanandan V, Salunke D, Patra KC, Zaganjor E, Ross K, Mizukami Y, Jeanfavre S, Chen A, Mino-Kenudson M, Ramaswamy S, Clish C, Haigis M, Bardeesy N, Ellisen LW. REDD1 loss reprograms lipid metabolism to drive progression of RAS mutant tumors. Genes Dev [print-electronic]. 2020 Jun 6/1/2020; 34(11-12): 751-66. PMID: 32273287, PMCID: PMC7263146, PII: gad.335166.119, DOI: 10.1101/gad.335166.119, ISSN: 1549-5477.

Lee JJ, van de Ven RAH, Zaganjor E, Ng MR, Barakat A, Demmers JJPG, Finley LWS, Gonzalez Herrera KN, Hung YP, Harris IS, Jeong SM, Danuser G, McAllister SS, Haigis MC. Inhibition of epithelial cell migration and Src/FAK signaling by SIRT3. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A [print-electronic]. 2018 Jul 7/3/2018; 115(27): 7057-62. PMID: 29915029, PMCID: PMC6142214, PII: 1800440115, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1800440115, ISSN: 1091-6490.

Escudero S, Zaganjor E, Lee S, Mill CP, Morgan AM, Crawford EB, Chen J, Wales TE, Mourtada R, Luccarelli J, Bird GH, Steidl U, Engen JR, Haigis MC, Opferman JT, Walensky LD. Dynamic Regulation of Long-Chain Fatty Acid Oxidation by a Noncanonical Interaction between the MCL-1 BH3 Helix and VLCAD. Mol Cell. 2018 Mar 3/1/2018; 69(5): 729-743.e7. PMID: 29499131, PMCID: PMC5916823, PII: S1097-2765(18)30103-5, DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2018.02.005, ISSN: 1097-4164.

Gonzalez Herrera KN, Zaganjor E, Ishikawa Y, Spinelli JB, Yoon H, Lin JR, Satterstrom FK, Ringel A, Mulei S, Souza A, Gorham JM, Benson CC, Seidman JG, Sorger PK, Clish CB, Haigis MC. Small-Molecule Screen Identifies De Novo Nucleotide Synthesis as a Vulnerability of Cells Lacking SIRT3. Cell Rep. 2018 Feb 2/20/2018; 22(8): 1945-55. PMID: 29466723, PMCID: PMC5902027, PII: S2211-1247(18)30140-2, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.01.076, ISSN: 2211-1247.

Zaganjor E, Spinelli JB, Haigis MC. Strength in numbers: Phosphofructokinase polymerization prevails in the liver. J Cell Biol [print-electronic]. 2017 Aug 8/7/2017; 216(8): 2239-41. PMID: 28716843, PMCID: PMC5551721, PII: jcb.201706005, DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201706005, ISSN: 1540-8140.

Zaganjor E, Vyas S, Haigis MC. SIRT4 Is a Regulator of Insulin Secretion. Cell Chem Biol. 2017 Jun 6/22/2017; 24(6): 656-8. PMID: 28644956, PII: S2451-9456(17)30193-9, DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2017.06.002, ISSN: 2451-9448.

Yang W, Nagasawa K, Münch C, Xu Y, Satterstrom K, Jeong S, Hayes SD, Jedrychowski MP, Vyas FS, Zaganjor E, Guarani V, Ringel AE, Gygi SP, Harper JW, Haigis MC. Mitochondrial Sirtuin Network Reveals Dynamic SIRT3-Dependent Deacetylation in Response to Membrane Depolarization. Cell [print-electronic]. 2016 Nov 11/3/2016; 167(4): 985-1000.e21. PMID: 27881304, PMCID: PMC5134900, PII: S0092-8674(16)31399-X, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.10.016, ISSN: 1097-4172.

German NJ, Yoon H, Yusuf RZ, Murphy JP, Finley LW, Laurent G, Haas W, Satterstrom FK, Guarnerio J, Zaganjor E, Santos D, Pandolfi PP, Beck AH, Gygi SP, Scadden DT, Kaelin WG, Haigis MC. PHD3 Loss in Cancer Enables Metabolic Reliance on Fatty Acid Oxidation via Deactivation of ACC2. Mol Cell. 2016 Sep 9/15/2016; 63(6): 1006-20. PMID: 27635760, PMCID: PMC5040345, PII: S1097-2765(16)30428-2, DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2016.08.014, ISSN: 1097-4164.

Vyas S, Zaganjor E, Haigis MC. Mitochondria and Cancer. Cell. 2016 Jul 7/28/2016; 166(3): 555-66. PMID: 27471965, PMCID: PMC5036969, PII: S0092-8674(16)30908-4, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.07.002, ISSN: 1097-4172.

McReynolds AC, Karra AS, Li Y, Lopez ED, Turjanski AG, Dioum E, Lorenz K, Zaganjor E, Stippec S, McGlynn K, Earnest S, Cobb MH. Phosphorylation or Mutation of the ERK2 Activation Loop Alters Oligonucleotide Binding. Biochemistry [print-electronic]. 2016 Mar 3/29/2016; 55(12): 1909-17. PMID: 26950759, PMCID: PMC5167559, DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.6b00096, ISSN: 1520-4995.

Zaganjor E, Osborne JK, Weil LM, Diaz-Martinez LA, Gonzales JX, Singel SM, Larsen JE, Girard L, Minna JD, Cobb MH. Ras regulates kinesin 13 family members to control cell migration pathways in transformed human bronchial epithelial cells. Oncogene [print-electronic]. 2014 Nov 11/20/2014; 33(47): 5457-66. PMID: 24240690, PMCID: PMC4025984, PII: onc2013486, DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.486, ISSN: 1476-5594.

Zaganjor E, Weil LM, Gonzales JX, Minna JD, Cobb MH. Ras transformation uncouples the kinesin-coordinated cellular nutrient response. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A [print-electronic]. 2014 Jul 7/22/2014; 111(29): 10568-73. PMID: 25002494, PMCID: PMC4115560, PII: 1411016111, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1411016111, ISSN: 1091-6490.

Singel SM, Cornelius C, Zaganjor E, Batten K, Sarode VR, Buckley DL, Peng Y, John GB, Li HC, Sadeghi N, Wright WE, Lum L, Corson TW, Shay JW. KIF14 promotes AKT phosphorylation and contributes to chemoresistance in triple-negative breast cancer. Neoplasia. 2014 Mar; 16(3): 247-56, 256.e2. PMID: 24784001, PMCID: PMC4094827, PII: S1476-5586(14)00019-0, DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2014.03.008, ISSN: 1476-5586.

Klein AM, Zaganjor E, Cobb MH. Chromatin-tethered MAPKs. Curr Opin Cell Biol [print-electronic]. 2013 Apr; 25(2): 272-7. PMID: 23434067, PMCID: PMC3654648, PII: S0955-0674(13)00003-3, DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2013.01.002, ISSN: 1879-0410.

Wauson EM, Zaganjor E, Cobb MH. Amino acid regulation of autophagy through the GPCR TAS1R1-TAS1R3. Autophagy [print-electronic]. 2013 Mar; 9(3): 418-9. PMID: 23222068, PMCID: PMC3590263, PII: 22911, DOI: 10.4161/auto.22911, ISSN: 1554-8635.

Wauson EM, Zaganjor E, Lee AY, Guerra ML, Ghosh AB, Bookout AL, Chambers CP, Jivan A, McGlynn K, Hutchison MR, Deberardinis RJ, Cobb MH. The G protein-coupled taste receptor T1R1/T1R3 regulates mTORC1 and autophagy. Mol Cell [print-electronic]. 2012 Sep 9/28/2012; 47(6): 851-62. PMID: 22959271, PMCID: PMC3749915, PII: S1097-2765(12)00687-9, DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2012.08.001, ISSN: 1097-4164.

Osborne JK, Zaganjor E, Cobb MH. Signal control through Raf: in sickness and in health. Cell Res [print-electronic]. 2012 Jan; 22(1): 14-22. PMID: 22143568, PMCID: PMC3351917, PII: cr2011193, DOI: 10.1038/cr.2011.193, ISSN: 1748-7838.

Lawrence MC, Jivan A, Shao C, Duan L, Goad D, Zaganjor E, Osborne J, McGlynn K, Stippec S, Earnest S, Chen W, Cobb MH. The roles of MAPKs in disease. Cell Res. 2008 Apr; 18(4): 436-42. PMID: 18347614, PII: cr200837, DOI: 10.1038/cr.2008.37, ISSN: 1748-7838.

Yagoda N, von Rechenberg M, Zaganjor E, Bauer AJ, Yang WS, Fridman DJ, Wolpaw AJ, Smukste I, Peltier JM, Boniface JJ, Smith R, Lessnick SL, Sahasrabudhe S, Stockwell BR. RAS-RAF-MEK-dependent oxidative cell death involving voltage-dependent anion channels. Nature. 2007 Jun 6/14/2007; 447(7146): 864-8. PMID: 17568748, PMCID: PMC3047570, PII: nature05859, DOI: 10.1038/nature05859, ISSN: 1476-4687.

Available Postdoctoral Position Details
Posted: 9/3/2020

Post-doctoral fellow at the Zaganjor Lab (Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics)

Position Summary: The post-doctoral fellow will work in the Zaganjor lab in the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at Vanderbilt University. The projects available in the lab include probing the role of mitochondrial metabolism in physiology and age-related diseases. In this area we are interested in:

- Examining the mechanisms by which mitochondrial sirtuins regulate adipose development and organismal health.

- Identifying new metabolic mechanisms involved in tumor formation, chemoresistance and metastasis.

For additional information refer to our publications: https://lab.vanderbilt.edu/zaganjor-lab/publications/

To apply email elma.zaganjor@vanderbilt.edu: 1. A cover letter stating research interests 2. A current CV 3. Contacts info for 2-3 references.


Responsibilities:

Research, 70% The successful candidate will work with the PI to develop and drive the direction of the project. The candidate will also have the opportunity to collaborate within the department as well as with the broader metabolism community.   

Professional development, 30% • Engaging in the opportunities and experiences that are required for the candidate to successfully transition to the next stage in their scientific career • Mentoring graduate and undergraduate students • Attending seminars, conferences, and other scientific educational opportunities • Writing fellowships (e.g. F32, K99, AACR, etc.) • Writing primary manuscripts and literature reviews Qualifications Experience/Education • PhD in cancer biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, or related field.

Relevant Experience: • Expertise in mammalian cell culture techniques including generation of cell lines and assays assessing basic cancer phenotypes (migration, proliferation, etc.). • Experience in microscopy and cell imaging techniques (fluorescence microscopy). • Experience in animal studies. • Experience in bioinformatics. • Experience in mitochondrial biology/metabolomics. • Experience in molecular biology and biochemistry (protein purification, cloning, immunohistochemistry). • Demonstrated track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals.