Signal Transduction

New therapeutic target for heart disease

New therapeutic target for heart disease

Dr. Ze'ev Ronai and colleagues show that reducing a protein called Siah2 in mice improves mitochondrial response to low oxygen, a condition cells experience when blood flow is restricted during a heart attack.

Sanford-Burnham leads International Proteolysis Society meeting

Sanford-Burnham leads International Proteolysis Society meeting

The event, organized by Dr. Guy Salvesen and others, brought together more than 300 researchers from a wide variety of fields to provide educational, training, and networking opportunities at all levels.

Sending medicine where it’s needed most

Sending medicine where it’s needed most

A collaboration between Sanford-Burnham research Dr. Maurizio Pellecchia and Dr. Elena Pasquale uses peptides (pieces of protein) to guide medicines directly to tumors.

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.

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.

Research - Cancer - Signal Transduction: How Our Research Helps

Recent Developments

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Molecular switch that allows melanoma to resist therapy...

Sanford-Burnham researchers identify protein kinase Cɛ as a molecular switch that determines tumor-promoting or -suppressing activity in skin cells.  Read More...

Recent Publications

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Research - Cancer - Signal Transduction: Recent Publications
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