Redox signaling & oxidative stress in cancer biology
Oxidative stress, Redox Signaling, Tumor biology
Research aim
We study how reactive oxygen species mediate redox signaling and oxidative damage, how the cell senses and responds to signaling and damage differentially, and how deregulation of these processes can contribute to cancer development and therapy.
About us
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced during mitochondrial respiration, but also by several enzymes (oxidases) localized throughout the cell. ROS are famous for their damaging properties at high levels, but have more recently been discovered to play crucial roles in physiological function in what is called Redox signaling. This form of signal transduction is initiated and mediated through the (reversible) oxidation of cysteines in proteins and thus translates the cellular redox state into an approriate cellular (transcriptional) response. Tumor cells rely heavily on a balanced cellular redox state and often have an adapted metabolism.
It is our aim to study oxidative damage and redox signaling downstream of localized ROS production, to understand how these processes contribute to phenotypes observed in cancer like uncontrolled proliferation and DNA mutation and whether modulation of localized ROS could be a strategy to selectively kill cancer cells.
It is our philosophy not to let our research questions be determined by available model systems, skills and equipment: but rather to search for or build model systems and engage in collaborations that can help us open up avenues to explore new ideas and answer questions that could not be answered before.