Recipients

Ubiquitin is a protein whose chief function is to mark with a chain of molecules other proteins that are to be destroyed. Recent studies have found that some proteins can be tagged with an atypical chain of ubiquitin molecules, which in turn produces a currently unidentified molecular signal. Discovering how and why these unusual ubiquitin chains cause a different signal is important, because they can be attached to proteins that play a key role in preventing cancer. Dr. Landon Pastushok is trying to "bait" and identify these new proteins, using artificial ubiquitin chains that mimic the atypical chains. Those proteins attracted to the chains are likely involved in molecular signalling that can lead to cancer. Dr. Pastushok's work may identify potential targets for new anti-tumor drugs or biological markers for cancer.

< Back to Search Results