Brandon Tu Rose Hills
Understanding Polyamine Synthesis: Ubiquitin-control of AMD1
Prostate cancer is among the most prevalent forms of cancer in the United States. Recent research studies in both mouse and human prostate tumors have uncovered a heightened dependency on small molecules known as polyamines. Polyamines are crucial signaling molecules for cellular growth and survival, supporting enhanced protein expression, nucleic acid synthesis, and chromatin remodeling. Understanding the factors which regulate polyamine production can provide insights into tumorigenesis and suggest targets for therapeutic benefit.
The polyamine producing enzyme adenosyl-methionine decarboxylase 1 (AMD1) is highly upregulated in prostate cancer models. The cellular factors which control AMD1 stability are unknown. My research will focus on post-translational regulation of AMD1 by the ubiquitin/proteasome system. To dissect this important link, I will characterize the ubiquitin E3 ligase machinery that is responsible for the degradation and regulation of AMD1.
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