Basic Science > Cell Signalling

Specific interests within our grouping cover functional studies of EGFR, Met receptor, ras signalling, phosphoinositide metabolism and the family of de-ubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs).

We have a particular focus on DUBs. Our laboratory provided the first example of DUB specificity for a particular type of ubiquitin chain linkage (K63, AMSH) and has provided detailed characterisation of two endosomal DUBs, which regulate down-regulation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). These studies are now being extended to identify other DUBs involved in processes germane to cancer, with a view to development of small molecule inhibitors.

RTKs initiate signaling networks, that integrate a number of signaling pathways. We are now using large scale-proteomic analysis to obtain an overview of networks associated with different growth factors such as HGF or EGF. These studies will be developed to determine how particular anti-cancer drugs impact on these networks in transformed cells.

The oncogene ras, is a key player in RTK signaling. Different types of cancer are associated with specific ras isoforms. We are analysing the extent to which these different ras isoforms perturb cellular signaling networks in various cancer cell lines and trying to understand the role that the sub-cellular localisation of ras plays in its function.

Groups specialising in this field:
Professor Michael Clague		Dr Judy Coulson		Professor Sylvie Urbé		Dr Ian Prior		Dr Dalmark Bennett