Cellular proteins are often modified with a “flag” that affects their function.  One such modification is the monosaccharide N-acetyl-glucosamine (O-GlcNAc), which is required for normal development and proper regulation of many biological pathways.  During metabolism, elevated glucose levels result in elevated O-GlcNAc modification of proteins. 

One common feature of all cancers is an altered metabolism that helps to protect cancer cells from the challenging environments they encounter during tumorigenesis and metastasis.  Dr. Pratt has uncovered a link between this change in metabolism and O-GlcNAc modification of proteins, which directly contributes to the proliferation and survival of cancer cells.  He seeks to understand the details of this link and exactly how it contributes to disease.  This approach will lead to a more complete understanding of how metabolism promotes cancer and may uncover new opportunities for treatment.

 

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Project Title: "O-GIcNAc as a "sweet" link between metabolism and survival in cancer"

Institution: University of Southern California

Sponsor(s) / Mentor(s): n/a

Cancer Type: All cancers

Research Area: Chemical Biology