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electron microscopy of the developing spermatocyte

Our Research

Our lab works on a family of enzymes known as ubiquitin ligases which are crucial for the healthy function of cells, especially in the context of environmental stresses and infection. When they are dysfunctional, this results in an array of different diseases including Parkinson’s disease, cancer, male infertility, and anaemia. Given the wide-ranging importance of these enzymes in many different cell types, our research is aimed at understanding why they are so important by discovering which cellular proteins they modify and what processes they control inside of cells. We study their impact on fundamental processes like controlling protein and organelle degradation, metabolism, and the trafficking of cellular components. Alongside this, we aim to harness the ability of ubiquitin ligases to specifically modify particular proteins to generate a new class of therapeutics.

Current Projects include:

  • Neuroprotective roles of Fbxo7/PARK15
  • Fbxo7 as a scaffold for the G1 phase cell cycle kinase, Cdk6
  • Fbxo7 and PI31 as proteasome regulators
  • F-box proteins in cancer
  • Targeting ubiquitin ligases and ubiquitinated proteins with novel biotherapeutic approaches.

 

 

Professor Heike Laman

Principal Investigator

 

Dr Sara Al Rawi

Research Associate

Hannah Bjone

PhD Student

Lorna Simpson

PhD Student

Sophie Willis

PhD Student

Fang (Linda) Lin

MPhil Student