Functional study of the regulatory role of the PP2A methylesterase PME-1 in the human cell cycle and mitosis.

Life cannot exist without cell division, which is probably one of the most complex and best controlled cell biological processes. Yet, cell division is not unfaultable, and defects in its regulation can be the cause of several diseases, most prominently cancer. Proper cell cycle progression requires sophisticated controls, often involving small, reversible modifications (phosphorylation) of key players, or more drastically, their irreversible degradation. However, these regulatory mechanisms and their complicated controls are as yet far from being clear. In this project, we aim to explore the regulatory role of protein phosphatase PP2A in this process, alongside its potential control by the PP2A methylesterase PME-1. This will provide fundamental insights into cell division and cell cycle regulation, which might be further exploited for therapeutic intervention.

Keywords:Methylesterase, Phosphorylation, PME-1, Cell cycle, Mitosis, Protein phosphatase PP2A

Disciplines:Biochemistry and metabolism, Systems biology, Medical biochemistry and metabolism