My research investigates the functions and regulation of protein phosphatases in response to extracellular signals and during the cell cycle.
Experiments combine methods of enzyme and protein biochemistry, cell biology, and molecular biology.
Their localization and specificity are controlled by association with a variety of regulatory subunits and inhibitor proteins. We are mapping binding and phosphorylation sites in GST fusion proteins of targeting subunits. One PP1 inhibitor protein has its mRNA and protein synthesized and degraded during each cell cycle and the protein is cytoplasmic during G1 phase and nuclear during S phase. We are studying how the cellular localization is controlled. Another PP1 inhibitor is affects cytoskeletal reorganization in response to hormone signals and we are studying how this protein works in cells.