Exploration of nuclear import as novel anticancer target

Cancer is a leading cause of death affecting millions of people worldwide. With an increasing number of incidence, there is a need for novel anticancer targets.

In eukaryotic cells, the transport of molecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm is crucial for correct regulation of multiple cellular pathways. In recent years, alterations in this process have been observed in various types of cancer cells. Aberrant expression of nuclear transport proteins can result in altered mutation-independent subcellular mislocalisation of oncogene proteins or tumour suppressors causing profound deregulation of different cellular functions. True validation of nuclear‑cytoplasmic transport as new anticancer target has recently been achieved with the first in class small molecule inhibitor of exportin-1, currently in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. The current project aims to discover novel targets within the nuclear cytoplasmic transport process and to map all genes involved in this transport cycle. Therefore, we will develop novel assays to study nuclear transport and set up a genome‑wide CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screen to uncover genes driving this process.