BBSRC Industrial CASE Studentship: The role and regulation of the DYRK1b protein kinase

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A large family of enzymes called protein kinases transfer phosphate groups from a molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on to target proteins. This has the effect of altering the properties of the target protein by changing its stability, location within the cell and interactions with other proteins. This phosphorylation-induced molecular switch is fundamental to all aspects of cell homeostasis and protein kinases are found in some of the simplest single celled organisms. Furthermore, many protein kinases control processes that are important in disease. Indeed, one such protein kinase, DYRK1b, is especially abundant in certain forms of cancer and so may be an attractive drug target. However, it is still not clear what function DYRK1b serves in cells (either normal cells of cancer cells), what its key targets are and how its protein kinase activity is regulated. This is the goal off this project.

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