Mary Munson

Mary Munson is a Professor at UMass Chan Medical School, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology. She holds multiple affiliations including the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and the NeuroNexus Institute. Her academic journey includes a B.A. in Chemistry & Biology from Washington University (1989) and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry from Yale University (1996). She completed postdoctoral research at Princeton University, focusing on molecular biology, before joining UMass Chan in 2001.

Her research investigates the regulation of vesicle targeting and fusion in eukaryotic cells, particularly using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model. Key areas include the structural and functional analysis of the Exocyst complex, SNARE protein interactions, and membrane fusion mechanisms. Techniques employed span biochemical assays, structural biology (e.g., X-ray crystallography), yeast genetics, and microscopy. Current projects include understanding Exocyst architecture, identifying novel regulators of exocytosis, and characterizing the role of Vps45p in endosomal SNARE assembly.

Her publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches to membrane trafficking, with contributions to understanding exocyst-SNARE interactions, Rab protein functions, and the structural dynamics of protein complexes. Despite no explicitly listed awards, her work frequently appears in high-impact journals like Nature Structural & Molecular Biology and Molecular Biology of the Cell. She mentors graduate students through programs in Biophysical Chemical and Computational Biology, Immunology, and Neuroscience.

Lab activities include cloning and protein purification studies, structural analysis of Exocyst domains, and genetic screens to identify new regulators. Future directions aim to bridge yeast findings to human cellular processes, with implications for neurological disorders and genetic diseases linked to exocyst dysfunction.