In particular, we are interested in the identification and characterization of signaling molecules that are coupled to death receptors and those that are part of intracellular pathways leading to cell death.
Apoptosis is implemented by caspases, a family of cysteine proteases.
A major effort of the laboratory is devoted to the identification and characterization of cellular regulators of caspases including activators and inhibitors. The latter includes Bcl-2 proteins, a conserved family of molecules that regulate apoptosis and caspase activation. Finally, our laboratory is interested in mechanisms by which pro-survival signaling pathways inhibit the death machinery. EMBO J . Phosphorylation of BAD through the Protein Kinase Akt.