Interrogating a novel protein scaffold that coordinates signal transduction and molecular motor function (2015-2016)
Abstract
Motors proteins move along an internal transport system, the cytoskeleton, to transfer a wide range of cargos essential for many biological functions. Dysregulated intracellular transport processes underlie the development of human disease highlighting the importance of understanding how these processes are controlled. This project will define how signal transduction events are integrated with motor protein functions essential for cell division or mitosis. We will delineate mechanisms required for molecular motor assembly and regulation and these represent ideal processes for drug targeting to inhibit mitosis. Thus, our study will inform on fundamental biological processes and facilitate the development of novel anti-mitotic therapies.
