Project 172149

Cancer is a disease in which cells of the body become growth deregulated. During development, cell division is normal and is controlled by signals transmitted by a class of proteins called kinases. Normally, the growth of cells is tightly controlled. During cancer, the control of some kinases are lost and signals are sent resulting in inappropriate growth. The current project studies two kinases, PDK1 and MEKK3, that function to control growth and differentiation pathways. We are trying to understand how these kinases operate and what might occur during cancer that causes these kinases to become deregulated. Once we know better how PDK1 and MEKK3 function, we will be able to design therapies that can specifically alter their involvement during cancer.