Projects
Organellar Redox Signaling in Plants Ghent University
Belgium research has a longstanding tradition and strong track record in organellar research. Christian de Duve, a Belgian cell biologist, discovered two cellular organelles (lysosomes and peroxisomes), for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1974 with Albert Claude (Belgian) and George Palade (Romania). Having worked at the border of biochemistry and cell biology, de Duve insisted on the importance of collaborative ...
Investigating the role of UBIAD1 and redox signaling in tumor formation, dissemination and relapse KU Leuven
Continuous innovation in cancer research is indispensable to be able to deal with the current drug failures due to therapy resistance or tumor relapse after treatment. In this project, we will address cancer research from a very innovative angle: we propose to block the accumulation of antioxidant in the tumor cells to impair their ability to proliferate, disseminate and regenerate. Tumor cells accumulate oxidative species to be able to ...
The role of ROS signaling and redox state in the aging process of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans Ghent University
The last decade many studies have shown that aging is correlated with but not caused by oxidative stress. Many of these studies have been performed in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. In dit research project we want to assess the role of redox signaling on the aging process of this nematode. This will be performed using genetically encoded sensors.
Can tissue regeneration be induced via redox manipulation? An indepth characterization of the redox signature during the initial steps of regeneration. Hasselt University
Defining the inter-organellar redox communication in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Vrije Universiteit Brussel
From S-sulfenylation to S-sulfinylation: redox switches in plants Ghent University
Adverse environmental conditions can trigger reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in plants. ROS can function as a "warning signal" to alarm the plant cell to initiate a protective response. In our research, we aim to understand how plant cells detect these warning signals and launch a “counter attack” against adverse conditions. One of the ways to sense ROS signal is via oxidative post-translational modifications (Oxi-PTMs) of cysteine ...
The Peroxisomal Redox Orchestra: New Melodies of Old Molecular Players KU Leuven
Eukaryotic life, viewed from a physicochemical perspective, is a remarkable phenomenon that defies all odds, as it emerges solely through the occurrence of seemingly unfavorable chemical reactions over the course of evolution. However, this fascinating concept comes with a cost: susceptibility to environmental fluctuations. As a result, cells must continually strive to reestablish and uphold equilibrium. A paradigmatic example of this is the ...
Relation between energy and redox metabolism and regulated necrosis during EMT: an opportunity for experimental cancer therapy. Ghent University
Tumor metastasis underlies 90% of cancer deaths. In order to evade the primary tumor and invade
other tissues, the cell undergoes dedifferentiation from epithelial to mesenchymal-like phenotype
(EMT). Tumorigenesis and EMT are associated with changes in energy requirements and with
strategies to evade normal cell death programs. There are multiple ways a cell can die. Two major
forms of cell death are apoptosis and ...
UBIAD1 redox enzyme inactivation as a new strategy to inhibit tumor angiogenesis KU Leuven
Angiogenesis, which consists in the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is a hallmark of cancer. In contrast with the expectations, anti-angiogenic drugs suffer from scarce efficacy demanding for alternative anti-angiogenic approaches. Redox signalling is emerging as a major determinant of cancer growth and endothelial cell homeostasis. Nevertheless its role in tumor angiogenesis remains unexplored. Previous studies from the ...