Chris Fromme is an Associate Professor in the Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology and the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics. After graduating from Cornell with a B.A. in Biology in 1999, Chris did his graduate studies with Greg Verdine at Harvard University, receiving a Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 2004. He then did postdoctoral work as a Miller Institute Fellow with Randy Schekman at UC Berkeley. He joined the Cornell faculty in 2008.
Research Focus
The Golgi complex is the “Grand Central Station” within our cells, serving as the primary sorting organelle at the nexus of the secretory and endocytic trafficking pathways. For example, virtually all proteins that eukaryotic cells display on their surface at the plasma membrane are first synthesized at the endoplasmic reticulum and then trafficked to the Golgi complex. Once at the Golgi, proteins find themselves at a crossroads: they may be trafficked to the plasma membrane, to endocytic organelles, to lysosomal organelles, back to the endoplasmic reticulum, or they may remain within the Golgi complex. We view the Golgi as an excellent model for investigating how decisions are made at the level of an organelle: How does the Golgi maintain homeostasis in the face of constant flux? How does the Golgi respond to changes in cargo load? Does the Golgi communicate with other organelles?
The regulators for all incoming and outgoing Golgi traffic are GTPases of the Rab and Arf families. Arf and Rab proteins are activated by GEFs (guanine nucleotide exchange factors), which are master regulators of trafficking pathways. Despite knowing the identity of many of these regulators, the molecular and atomic basis for their regulation remains poorly defined.
Our lab has discovered that GTPase activation is regulated at the Golgi through GEF autoinhibition, positive feedback, and GTPase crosstalk mechanisms. Our findings lead to a model for regulation of the Golgi in which multiple GTPases pathways, previously considered to act in isolation, are intimately connected. By investigating how the GEFs are regulated using biochemical, structural, and cell biological approaches, we aim to uncover the molecular logic governing regulation of the Golgi at a mechanistic level.
Teaching Focus
Chris currently teaches BioMG 1350, "Cell and Developmental Biology", and participates in BMCB graduate courses. He previously taught BioMG 3350 "Principles of Biochemistry" for 10 years.
Additional Links
Awards and Honors
- Fellow (2016) John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
Selected Publications
Journal Publications
- Thomas, L. L., van der Vegt, S. A., & Fromme, J. C. (2019). A steric gating mechanism dictates the substrate specificity of a Rab-GEF. Developmental Cell. 48:100-114.
- Halaby, S. L., & Fromme, J. C. (2018). The HUS box is required for allosteric regulation of the Sec7 Arf-GEF. JBC: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 293:6682-6691.
- Thomas, L. L., Joiner, A. M., & Fromme, J. C. (2018). The TRAPPIII complex activates the GTPase Ypt1 (Rab1) in the secretory pathway. JCB: The Journal of Cell Biology. 217:283-298.
- Gustafson, M. A., & Fromme, J. C. (2017). Regulation of Arf activation occurs via distinct mechanisms at early and late Golgi compartments. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 28:3660-3671.
- Thomas, L. L., & Fromme, J. C. (2016). GTPase cross talk regulates TRAPPII activation of Rab11 homologues during vesicle biogenesis. JCB: The Journal of Cell Biology. 215:499-513.
- Richardson, B. C., Halaby, S. L., Gustafson, M. A., & Fromme, J. C. (2016). The Sec7 N-terminal regulatory domains facilitate membrane-proximal activation of the Arf1 GTPase. eLIFE. 5.
- McDonold, C. M., & Fromme, J. C. (2014). Four GTPases differentially regulate the Sec7 Arf-GEF to direct traffic at the trans-Golgi network. Developmental Cell. 30:759-767.
- Paczkowski, J. E., & Fromme, J. C. (2014). Structural basis for membrane binding and remodeling by the exomer secretory vesicle cargo adaptor. Developmental Cell. 30:610-624.
- Richardson, B. C., McDonold, C. M., & Fromme, J. C. (2012). The Sec7 Arf-GEF is recruited to the trans-Golgi network by positive feedback. Developmental Cell. 22:799-810.