Sara Mari, Ph.D. Student (»Add to Infobox)

Simona Polo's group Academic: IFOM- FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan Phone:  0039-2-574303302 Email:  sara.mariifom-ieo-campus.it

General description: Identification of the signaling events that lead to eps15 monoubiquitination. Preliminary results indicate that the kinase activity of the EGFR is required, although the EGFR phosphorylation sites are not. This hints strongly towards a possible downstream regulation exerted by one of the several tyrosine or serine/threonine kinases activated by the EGFR. In addition, we found that treatment with specific inhibitors of the EGFR (such as AG1478 or genistein) and of Src kinase activity (PP1) were able to abolish eps15 monoUb, indicating that this event depends on proteins acting at early steps of RTK signaling cascade. Among the kinases activated by the EGFR, we will focus our attention on Src, since it is the major target of PP1. Role in RUBICON: The goal of my current research project is to establish how EGFR signals to the ubiquitination machinery, Nedd4, leading to endocytic adaptors monoubiquitination. To gain insight on this issue, I am using an integrated approach based on specific pharmacological inhibitors and molecular genetics tools.