The Ganley lab is interested in unravelling the molecular mechanism of autophagy (which literally translates from the Greek meaning to eat oneself). Autophagy is a lysosomal degradation pathway that functions to clear the cell of potentially damaging agents, such as protein aggregates or faulty mitochondria, as well as acting as a recycling station to supply essential building blocks during periods of starvation. Importantly, autophagy appears to be dysregulated in many diseases and therefore its modulation could lead to novel therapies. However, to enable this, we first need to understand the machinery involved. A project is available to decipher the signals that lead to the specific autophagy of mitochondria (termed mitophagy), a process that has strong links to Parkinson’s disease and cancer. Following up on recently published work, the project will utilise state-of-the-art microscopy, protein biochemistry and high-throughput screening to identify phosphorylation and ubiquitylation events involved in capturing mitochondria for degradation.

At the MRC PPU, as well as the option of a PhD in one particular lab, we offer the possibility of two 4.5-month rotations in labs of their choice. A range of other projects from MRC PPU scientists are advertised on this website. Rotations provide valuable experience and help with deciding on the choice of PhD project and research group.

References

1. Wilhelm LP, Zapata-Muñoz J, Villarejo-Zori B, Pellegrin S, Freire CM, Toye AM, Boya P, Ganley IG. BNIP3L/NIX regulates both mitophagy and pexophagy. EMBO J. 2022 Dec 15;41(24):e111115. PMID: 36215693.
2. Singh F, Prescott AR, Rosewell P, Ball G, Reith AD, Ganley IG. Pharmacological rescue of impaired mitophagy in Parkinson's disease-related LRRK2 G2019S knock-in mice. Elife. 2021 Aug 3;10:e67604. PMID: 34340748.
3. McWilliams TG, Prescott AR, Montava-Garriga L, Ball G, Singh F, Barini E, Muqit MMK, Brooks SP, Ganley IG. Basal Mitophagy Occurs Independently of PINK1 in Mouse Tissues of High Metabolic Demand. Cell Metab. 2018 Feb 6;27(2):439-449. PMID: 29337137.
4. Ganley IG, Simonsen A. Diversity of mitophagy pathways at a glance. J Cell Sci. 2022 Dec 1;135(23):jcs259748. PMID: 36504076.

At the MRC PPU, as well as the possibility of a PhD in one particular lab, we offer the possibility of two 4.5-month rotations in labs of their choice. A range of other projects from MRC PPU scientists are advertised on this website. Rotations provide valuable experience and help with deciding on the choice of PhD project and research group.