Transcriptional complexity of cell cycle regulated genes during cell division and tumorigenesis (2007–2009)

Abstract:
Massive scale transcriptome and genome annotation efforts have recently identified all genes encoding the cellular machinery of protein phosphorylation. The size of the molecular network of kinases and phosphatses has been found to be far more complex in mammals than previously reported, with many kinase and phosphatase loci generating, on average, more than 4 transcripts per gene. This grant is aimed at addressing the role of transcriptional complexity in the control of normal cell division and tumorigenesis using a systems wide approach. Rather than relying on the locus based study, this proposal seeks to take a systems biology approach, addressing the functional diversity of the expanded human phosphoregulator proteome, identifying all components of the network that are actively and dynamically expressed in the normal cell cycle and/or tumour progression, and then screening selected novel components for an ability regulate the cell cycle. Such studies will advance our understanding the involvements of the protein phosphorylation machinery in regulating cell division, highlight novel components potentially relevant tumorigenesis and potentially identify new chemotherapeutic targets.
Grant type:
NHMRC Project Grant
Researchers:
Funded by:
National Health and Medical Research Council