Small GTPases: Basic Science to Translational Research
Symposium — Saturday, April 22, 2024 — 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM — , Room W192B
American Federation for Medical Research (AFMR) — Chair: Yutong Zhao — Co-Chair: Anna Birukova
The small GTPases are a family of small proteins that can hydrolyze a GTP to from GDP. Small GTPases regulate a wide variety of processes in the cells and function as molecular switches in cytoskeletal rearrangement, endocytosis, cell proliferation, and signal transduction. Researchers are seeking new therapeutic strategies by targeting RhoA, Rac1, and Rabs for lung injury and cancer. To better understand basic knowledge of small GTPases and their roles in the development of new approaches to treat human diseases, we will invite worldwide-renown scientists to present their recent cutting edge research in this field.
Dr. Alan Hall is a cell biologist professor at the Sloan-Kettering Institute. He has contributed to the small GTPase filed since early of 1990s. His studies focus on the regulation of RhoA, Rac1, and cdc42 activity and their roles in the cell growth and motility. His earlier works in London is the milestone studies for discovering the field. Dr. Hall will give an over-view of small GTPases, their cell biological functions, and current research challenge in the field.
Dr. Guangpu Li is a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. His research is to understand the role of Rab GTPase in the molecular basis of endocytosis and its role in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation.
Dr. Li will introduce the role of Rab GTPases in the regulation of endocytosis in the neurological diseases. Dr. Yutong Zhao is an Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh. One of his major scientific contributions is identifying a new ubiquitin E3 ligase, named FBXL19, to target small GTP-binding proteins for their ubiquitination and degradation. He has revealed a new mechanism by which FBXL19 regulates Rac1 and RhoA stability and their signal pathway-mediated cell mortality and proliferation. Dr. Zhao will present the role of FBXL19 in the regulation of Rac1 and RhoA ubiquitination and degradation in lung epithelial cells.
Dr. Anna Birukova is a Associate professor at the University of Chicao. She has demonstrated that regulation of Rac1 and RhoA activity in endothelial cells contributes to lung endothelial barrier integrity. In this symposium, Dr. Birukova will elucidate new mechanisms by which the RhoA/Rac1 balance is disrupted during the development of lung injury and develop novel therapies to restoring the RhoA/Rac1 balance and improve the lung repair and remodeling.
All the topics in this symposium are highly relevant to each other. This will provide discussion between the speakers and audience. For an audience that is familiar with the small GTP proteins, this will be a wonderful opportunity for them to understand the basic and translational research of the small GTP proteins in human diseases
Speakers
- Functional Cross-Talk between small GTPases
Alan Hall — Cell Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute
- Rab GTPases in the Regulation of Endocytosis in Neurological Diseases
Guangpu Li — Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
- Ubiquitination and Degradation of Small G Proteins by SCF E3 ligase
Yutong Zhao — Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
- The Role of RhoA in Lung Injury
Anna Birukova — Medicine, University of Chicago