Damon Runyon Researchers

Dr. Gates [HHMI Fellow] is focusing on the 26S proteasome, part of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS), which is important for protein quality control and cellular regulation. The proteasome degrades aggregated and misfolded proteins, which are tagged with a ubiquitin molecule for disposal in normal cells. Proteasomes are also critical in helping cancer cells survive by disposing of malfunctioning proteins, so inhibiting the proteasomal degradation mechanism is an effective cancer drug target. Dr. Gates is investigating how the cell's disposal machinery recognizes ubiquitin, which may help in designing proteasome inhibitors for cancer treatment.