Main Field(s) of Research, Abstract
Our group is interested in understanding the role of ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in DNA damage response (DDR). DDR is a complex signalling pathway, composed of hundreds of proteins that recognize damaged DNA and transmit the signal downstream of damage, which regulates recruitment of DNA repair molecules as well as cell cycle, transcription and apoptosis. Recently, protein modification with small peptide called ubiquitin, emerged as an essential regulator of all features of DDR. Ubiquitin is attached to a variety of proteins in DDR by an enzymatic reaction called ubiquitination. Ubiquitination is highly complex reaction where more then thousand ubiquitin-related enzymes create different ubiquitin coding chains on protein substrates in a coordinated manner. We aim to understand which ubiqutin enzymes are involved in DDR and how the components of DDR decode the ubiquitin signal to perform the spatiotemporal functions such as DNA repair, cell cycle checkpoints or apoptosis. Special focus will be given to central component of the ubiquitin system, a “molecular corkscrew” called p97 or valosine-containing protein (VCP). To satisfy our scientific curiosity we will employ a variety of cell-biological and biochemical approaches using mammalian cells and Xenopus laevis egg extracts. Our ultimate goal is to develop an efficient anti-cancer therapy that will precisely target components of the UPS.

Main Fields of Research, Keywords
p97/VCP, ubiquitin proteasome system, DNA damage response, DNA double strand breaks, E3 ligases and anti-cancer therapy

Special Techniques and Equipment
Any biochemical, molecular-biological and cell biological techniques required for answering our scientific questions will be used. Techniques that are not readily available in our lab will be performed in collaboration with other research groups.

Education and Training
Training for Master students, Medical Doctor thesis, PhD students and Postdocs is provided.