Dr Pawel Leznicki has been awarded a grant from Tenovus Scotland to broaden our understanding of how deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) regulate cancer cell survival. The research will be carried out in the group of Dr Yogesh Kulathu within the Medical Research Council’s Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC PPU), University of Dundee.

DUBs reverse and modulate protein ubiquitylation, a versatile post-translational modification that controls virtually all facets of eukaryotic cell biology. Ubiquitylation and deubiquitylation regulate, for example, a controlled programme of cell death (apoptosis) and hence determine cell fate. Deregulation of apoptotic progression has emerged as a key factor that contributes to carcinogenesis. Therefore, better understanding of the mechanisms that control apoptosis is crucial for the development of future therapies targeting cancer.

Pawel’s preliminary results implicate a previously uncharacterised DUB in the regulation of apoptosis and the survival of selected cancer cell lines. The award from Tenovus Scotland will enable Pawel to obtain mechanistic insights into the mode of action of this fascinating enzyme and will open new avenues for future research towards targeting this DUB for anti-cancer therapies.