Protein Stability and Cancer Research 

Steven Grossman, PhD 

The research conducted in the Grossman Laboratory focuses on the formation and progression of human cancers that are ultimately regulated by the abundance and activity of both oncogenic and tumor suppressor proteins.  Both genetic (i.e. mutational) and epigenetic mechanisms play a role in activating oncogenes and inactivating tumor suppressor proteins. 

The Grossman Laboratory studies one aspect of the many epigenetic mechanisms at play in tumor initiation and progression - the regulation of protein abundance and activity through regulated ubiquitination and proteasome degradation. 

Current Research Projects 

National Institutes of Health - National Cancer Institute  

• R01 CA107532:     Role of P300 and HHR23 Proteins in P53 Regulation
  
  The goals of this grant include determining the role of p300/MDM2 complexes, p300 ubiquitin ligase activity and hHR23 proteins in regulating p53 function and metabolic stability. 
  

American Cancer Society

• RSG-08-083-01-MGO:  Role of CtBP in p53-Independent ARF tumor suppression
  
  The goals of this project will b e to understand at the molecular level the precise mechanism and regulation of CtBP degradation by ARF, and to better understand the mechanics of the ARF/CtBP pathway in human and murine oncogenesis at the cellular, tissue, and organismal level.
  
  Specific Aims:
  1.) To investigate the mechanism and regulation of CtBP degradation by ARF;
  2.) Determine the mechanism and role of ARF/CtBP interaction in tumor suppression.