We are thrilled to announce that Kai Gallant, a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Professor Satpal Virdee, has been awarded the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship. This highly competitive grant will support their pioneering research into the hidden "switches" of the cellular world: the regulation of E3 ligases by cellular small molecules.
The ubiquitin system acts as the cell’s quality control and signalling hub, using enzymes called E3 ligases to label proteins for specific fates. When these ligases malfunction, it can lead to devastating diseases, including cancer and neurodegeneration. While we know many ways these enzymes are controlled, Kai’s project focuses on the vastly underexplored regulatory interface between cellular small molecules and E3 ligases. By using cutting-edge activity-based probes and mass spectrometry, the project will map how the small molecules of our metabolism directly influence the activity of these vital enzymes.
By charting this "metabolite-E3 landscape," the research aims to uncover entirely new ways to intervene in disease processes. Identifying these interactions could provide the blueprint for future drugs that re-tune the ubiquitin system to treat illness.
"I am excited to advance our understanding of E3 ligase activity regulation in cellular systems with the support of the MSCA Fellowship and look forward to working together with all the incredible people in Satpal’s lab, the MRC PPU and Faculty of Life Sciences. I am convinced that the research infrastructure and expertise here in Dundee is the perfect environment for impactful research and am grateful to have the chance to contribute to that.”
– Kai Gallant, MSCA Fellow
"This fellowship is a testament to Kai’s innovative interdisciplinary approach. By bridging the gap between metabolism and the ubiquitin system, we are looking at cellular regulation through a completely new lens. We are excited to see where this project leads."
– Satpal Virdee
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) is the European Union’s flagship funding program for doctoral education and postdoctoral training. It promotes excellence in research and supports the career development of researchers across all disciplines, fostering international mobility and innovation.