The Pierce lab published a research article in PNAS, with Zheng Wu, graduate student and Bruce Jones Fellow as first author.  The paper, entitled "Nonapoptotic role of EGL-1 in exopher production and neuronal health in Caenorhabditis elegans" reveals role for the protein EGL-1 in mitochondrial dynamics and exopher production (a process by which cells remove trash from the cell body to keep the cell healthy). These results are relevant to alcohol use disorder because during prolonged exposure to ethanol, neurons use this pathway to removing harmful contents from the cell.

Wu Z, Cardona EA, Cohn JA, Pierce JT. Nonapoptotic role of EGL-1 in exopher production and neuronal health in Caenorhabditis elegans. PNAS. 2025. Jan 14;122(2):e2407909122. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2407909122