Protein Stability and Cancer Research

Steven Grossman, PhD

The research conducted in the  Grossman Laboratory focuses on the formation and progression of human cancers that are ultimately regulated by the abundance and activity of both oncogenic and tumor suppressor proteins.  Both genetic (i.e. mutational) and epigenetic mechanisms play a role in activating oncogenes and inactivating tumor suppressor proteins.

Jianyuan Luo, PhD

The  Luo Laboratory is interested in mechanisms of protein acetylation in regulating intracellular trafficking, protein stability and function in ageing and in particular its relevance to cancer onset and progression.  Protein acetylation modification is an important mechanism to regulate protein functions. Since the first non-histone protein acetylation has been found a few years ago, more and more proteins were discovered that can be regulated by this pathway for various functions including differentiation, proliferation, senescence and apoptosis.

The Luo Laboratory works on protein acetylation pathway in cancer and aging. We were one of the first labs to discover Stat3 protein can be regulated by acetylation. 

Hayla Sluss, PhD

The research goals of the Sluss lab are to have a better understanding of the tumor suppressor p53. We investigate classical roles of p53 in tumor suppression and novel roles of p53 in metabolic disease.  p53 is a protein that is mutated in over 50% of human cancer.  This observation underscores its importance in prevention of cancer.  We are using mouse models and perform in vitro studies to investigate p53 function.

Another aim of the laboratory is to better understand the role of p53 in metabolism.  This is a very new area of research for the p53 signaling pathway.  We have applied genetic engineering and biochemistry to address this novel role of p53.