Every cell in our body has an intrinsic orientation that is controlled by a universal set of genes known as polarity genes. Loss of this orientation is a common and early feature of cancer. We have identified the gene Scribble as a gene that controls cell orientation and is essential to prevent the development of prostate cancer. We propose experiments to discover how Scribble controls prostate cancer and whether it can be used to better predict outcome for prostate cancer patients.
The Mechanism By Which Apical-basal Polarity Complexes Regulate The Salvador-Warts-Hippo Pathway
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,099.00
Summary
Cancer is a multi-hit process involving the activation of critical signaling pathways leading to increased proliferation, survival and increased invasion-metastasis. We have discovered that a neoplastic tumour suppressor gene, lgl, acts though the Salvador-Warts-Hippo (SWH) tumour suppressor pathway to inhibit cell proliferation and cell survival. Here we use the model organism, Drosophila, and mammalian epithelial cells to determine the mechanism by which Lgl activates the SWH pathway.
Australian Drosophila Biomedical Research Support Facility
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,008,895.00
Summary
Breakthroughs in biomedical research frequently come from the study of model organisms, one of the most important of which is the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster. In Australia, Drosophila is used in biomedical research with a particular focus on understanding processes that result in human cancer or are associated with birth defects or inherited diseases. Drosophila-based research is funded by bodies such as the Anti-Cancer Foundation, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NH an ....Breakthroughs in biomedical research frequently come from the study of model organisms, one of the most important of which is the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster. In Australia, Drosophila is used in biomedical research with a particular focus on understanding processes that result in human cancer or are associated with birth defects or inherited diseases. Drosophila-based research is funded by bodies such as the Anti-Cancer Foundation, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NH and MRC) and the National Institutes of Health of the USA. This proposal seeks to establish infrastructure support for Drosophila research in the form of a central collection of key research stocks, a centralized facility for the importation of genetically defined stocks and a facility for the generation of transgenic Drosophila for use in biomedical research.Read moreRead less