Signal Transduction

Cancer drug’s secret to resistance

Cancer drug’s secret to resistance

Dr. Matt Petroski and colleagues outline a new method to test a tumor’s resistance to an experimental therapy before testing the drug in patients—providing a new path toward personalized medicine.

Cellular sensor’s 3D structure reveals new cancer clues

Cellular sensor’s 3D structure reveals new cancer clues

Dr. Francesca Marassi and colleagues determined the 3D structure of a complete, unmodified G-protein-coupled receptor in its native environment: embedded in a lipid membrane.

Molecular switch that allows melanoma to resist therapy

Molecular switch that allows melanoma to resist therapy

Dr. Ze’ev Ronai and his team identify protein kinase Cɛ as a molecular switch that determines tumor-promoting or -suppressing activity in skin cells.

Studying signal transduction

Signal transduction research concerns the mechanisms cells use to interpret, integrate, and act upon information received by cell surface receptors or by intracellular signals elicited in response to stress or damage. The conversion of this information into biochemical events that trigger specific pathways, control gene activity, and modify cell behavior are among the main topics studied in this program.

Signal Transduction ProgramWhat is signal transduction? Program director Ze'ev Ronai, Ph.D. explains.

The Signal Transduction Program focuses on research questions related to the control of cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, DNA damage checkpoint function, stress response pathways, and cellular senescence. The emphasis lies on studies of protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation, ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins, chromatin organization, and transcription factors that play important roles in these processes. The projects employ state-of-the art technologies, including comprehensive proteomic and phosphoproteomic profiling, as well as high-content and high-throughput screening of siRNA and chemical compound libraries.

How our research helps improve health

Many pathologic disorders in humans arise from malfunctioning signal transduction processes in particular cells or tissues. A substantial proportion of modern-day drug discovery efforts is founded on the premise that pharmacologic manipulation of signaling proteins will prove beneficial in the prevention and treatment of major human afflictions, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Discoveries by scientists in this program have resulted in several new therapies currently in clinical testing, including drugs that block signal transduction proteins needed for cancer cell division and survival and cancer gene therapies that reprogram the genome of tumor cells, making them easier to kill with chemotherapy or radiation.

 

Recent Developments

Read more about other developments from the Signal Transduction program.

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Research - Cancer - Signal Transduction: Recent Publications
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