Principal Investigator Jukka Westermarck

Principal Investigator:

Research Proffessor Jukka Westermarck, MD, PhD

Primary Affiliation:

Centre for Biotechnology, Univeristy of turku

Title of the FIMM-Specific Research Project:

Targeting protein-protein interactions for cancer therapy

Abstract:

The goal of our research group is to identify novel signalling mechanisms involved in malignant cell growth by isolating protein complexes associated with proteins previously demonstarted to have an important role in cancer progression. To identify protein complexes, we use tandem affinity purification (TAP) and Strep-tag purification methods, both proven to be suitable for purification of signalling protein complexes from mammalian cells in culture. In collaboration with Dr. Sampsa Hautaniemi´s group at University of Helsinki we are also developing bioinformatics tools for more efficient data mining of the existing protein-protein interaction data.

Identification of novel proteins involved in malignant growth may reveal novel possibilities for intervention in the therapy of cancer and other hyperproliferative diseases. Based on our recent work, we have identified several novel interacting proteins for signalling proteins such as AP-1 transcription factor c-Jun and protein phosphatase PP2A. The overall goal of the FIMM associated project is to develop research tools to identify novel cancer relevant protein-protein interactions either form the existing databases or by using affinity purification approaches. Especially we aim to set up generally applicable research platforms which allow user to define cancer relevant interaction partners from the list of potential protein-interaction partners. In addition we are interested in pursuing the rapidly developing approaches for inhibiting protein-protein interactions for cancer therapy.

Contact information:

Jukka Westermarck, MD, PhD

Research Professor for the Finnish Cancer Institute

Centre for Biotechnology

University of Turku and Åbo Akademi

Tykistökatu 6A

20520 Turku

FINLAND

e.mail: jukwes(at)utu.fi

GSM. +358-40-7423007

http://www.btk.fi/index.php?id=1279