Jaclyn E. Tetenbaum-Novatt

B.A., M.S., Brandeis University
Biochemical Analysis of the Protein-Protein Interactions Involved in Karyopherin-mediated Transport across the Nuclear Pore Complex
presented by Michael P. Rout

Jackie is a local-grown New Yorker who is a shining example of the kind of superb graduate student that we are lucky enough to have at this university, and that you can see here today. Jackie joined my lab to study nuclear pore complexes, the massive machines that act as the gatekeepers of the cell’s nucleus. Jackie chose to study how proteins called FG nups work; these are the proteins in the nuclear pore complex that actually mediate transport of materials into and out of the nucleus.

At the time, I think no one, least of all me, appreciated quite how much of a challenge this project was going to be. We began to realize why so few people have published anything on FG nups. It turns out that these are incredibly difficult proteins to make and to work with, and had I known I definitely wouldn’t have wished them on such a nice person as Jackie.

However, Jackie’s mild nature disguises an extraordinary level of bubbly enthusiasm, intelligence, dedication and determination to solve problems. She clearly believes in the proverb that you cannot get to the top by sitting on your bottom. Because of this, she developed methods to purify perhaps 1,000 times more of the FG nups than anyone else had previously made, systematically solving problems of the kind that would have made most people give up. But giving up doesn’t come easily to Jackie!

This has allowed her, for the first time, to develop and apply numerous cutting-edge assays that have revealed surprising new aspects of the way these peculiar proteins work. This includes learning how FG nups can stop the wrong materials crossing the nuclear pore complex while letting the right things get through, and helping to build the first artificial nuclear pore complex.

Jackie has also proved to be a fantastic colleague in the laboratory, always happy to offer a helping hand. She has contributed tremendously to the life of the laboratory and has made sure she’s enjoyed life in general in New York. She is usually a key organizer of our lab parties, is a keen cello player, and I understand she’s seen just about every Broadway musical playing.

I’m really happy to see Jackie graduating today, launching her into what is sure to be a sparklingly successful future. Jackie’s work continues to spawn new lines of research, and Jackie herself is carrying on her FG nup work, so we’re lucky that she’ll be around being the life and soul of the lab for a little longer!