Proteins are quite literally the backbone that control biological processes in the body. We look at how these proteins are made, regulated and used by the cells in our body and by doing so, we gain valuable information into how the biological processes are governed and executed.
Making and breaking membrane proteins
We are interested in the atypical routes by which tail-anchored membrane proteins are integrated into the endoplasmic reticulum. This highly redundant process is linked to the cytosolic quality control of mislocalized membrane proteins, and their shared molecular machineries are our major research focus.
Principal investigator: Professor Stephen High
Mitochondrial protein biogenesis and quality control
Mitochondria are vitally important organelles, performing essential catabolic and anabolic functions, as well as critical roles in cell death. Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to ageing and neurodegenerative diseases. We are interested in biogenesis of mitochondrial proteins and the conserved mitochondrial proteases - how they work as quality control enzymes degrading misfolded and damaged proteins preventing mitochondrial dysfunction.
Principal investigator: Dr Hui Lu
Regulating the fate of newly-made proteins
We are interested in understanding how events that occur as proteins are being made govern their fate. All proteins are synthesised by ribosomes, yet they require diverse modifications, folding pathways or targeting to different cellular localisations. We study how the factors that carry out these processes interact with the ribosome such that the correct factors interact with the correct newly proteins at the right time.
Principal investigator: Dr Martin Pool
Protein quality control
The ability to recognise and eliminate proteins with non-native structures is essential for cellular homeostasis and survival. This is achieved by protein quality control pathways which operate at multiple subcellular compartments within eukaryotic cells. Inefficient or overzealous activity of protein quality control contributes to a wide range of diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and cystic fibrosis.
We are interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms through which non-native proteins are identified, with a particular focus on disease-associated membrane proteins.
Principal investigator: Dr Lisa Swanton
Endosomal sorting of proteins
We are interested in the ubiquitin-dependent sorting of membrane proteins at the endosome. This process is essential for the control of numerous signalling pathways that are initiated by cell surface receptors.
Principal investigator: Professor Philip Woodman