RESEARCH: CANCER
FOLDING PROJECT #18810 PROFILE

This project studies how small parts of messy proteins change how they stick to each other when they're chemically modified. This helps us understand how these proteins control genes, which is important because messed-up gene control can lead to diseases like cancer.

Note: This TLDR is a simplication and may not be 100% accurate.

Disordered proteins are essential regulators of cellular function.

In particular, they regulate the transcription of genes.

In this project we want to understand how disordered proteins involved in gene regulation interact with each other and how their interactions are modulated.

Disordered proteins are often modified by the attachment of chemical groups, for example via phosphorylation.

This addition of a negatively charged phosphoryl group can change how they interact with binding partners, for example favoring binding to a positively charged partner and disfavoring binding to a negatively charged or hydrophobic binding site.

In this project we look specifically at small fragments of disordered proteins to understand how phosphorylation mediates their interactions.

In subsequent projects we will look at larger fragments or even full-length disordered proteins.

Our research may help to better understand the diverse functions of disordered proteins in regulating genes -- a starting point for understanding the dysregulation of disordered proteins, which is implicated in the development of age-related diseases such as cancer.

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Disordered proteins

Proteins lacking a stable three-dimensional structure.

Disordered proteins are essential regulators of cellular function. They lack a fixed shape and can interact with many different partners, influencing various cellular processes like gene regulation.

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Transcription

The process of copying DNA into RNA.

Transcription is the first step in gene expression. It involves creating a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule from a DNA template. This mRNA carries genetic information to ribosomes, where proteins are synthesized.

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Phosphorylation

The addition of a phosphate group to a molecule.

Phosphorylation is a common way to regulate protein activity. Adding a phosphate group can change how a protein interacts with other molecules, activating or deactivating it.

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Binding partners

Molecules that interact with each other.

Binding partners are molecules that physically interact. This can occur between proteins, DNA, or other biomolecules, influencing cellular processes and signaling pathways.

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Cancer

A disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth.

Cancer is a group of diseases where abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and can invade surrounding tissues. It arises from genetic mutations that disrupt normal cell regulation.