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Dr K Taylor
Applications accepted all year round
Self-Funded PhD Students Only
About the Project
Project aims
Zinc is essential for all living cells, yet the true extent of its role is only now emerging and is fully suggestive of a complexity and importance of that attributed to calcium (1). This project aims to investigate methods of targeting specific zinc transporters that have been demonstrated to drive the progression of breast cancer (3). This project will utilise our large range of ‘in house’ novel cell models of anti-hormone resistant breast cancer cell lines that have extensive affymetrix analysis of gene expression (4). Our recent novel finding that the zinc transport ability of zinc transporters can be controlled by phosphorylation, a mechanism previously unprecedented for zinc transporters, will provide an opportunity to target zinc transporters to prevent breast cancer progression. The role of zinc transporters in driving the cellular signalling pathways that cause increased growth, invasion and migration will be examined.
Methods
The student will have the opportunity to use both molecular biological and cell biological techniques, already working within the group, that complement the functional investigation of the group into the workings of the ZIP family of zinc transporters. Furthermore, there is an opportunity to investigate zinc transporter expression by immunohistochemistry in a wide range of clinical material. Additionally, there will be use of fluorescent microscopy to image changes in zinc fluorescent dyes in response to intracellular zinc (3) and monitor changes in cellular location and cell migration in relation to resistance to anti-hormones. The successful progression of the project should allow opportunities to progress findings towards clinical trial development.
Environment
Dr. Kathryn Taylor, currently supported by the Wellcome Trust, is leading the field in discovering the role of ZIP family transporters (7, 8, 9) in intracellular zinc signalling (1) and cancer (1, 3, 4). The department has a large number of PhD students which ensures a lively PhD student community and also runs a fully comprehensive training programme.
For further information please contact [Email Address Removed] stating the project title that you are interested in.
Zinc is essential for all living cells, yet the true extent of its role is only now emerging and is fully suggestive of a complexity and importance of that attributed to calcium (1). This project aims to investigate methods of targeting specific zinc transporters that have been demonstrated to drive the progression of breast cancer (3). This project will utilise our large range of ‘in house’ novel cell models of anti-hormone resistant breast cancer cell lines that have extensive affymetrix analysis of gene expression (4). Our recent novel finding that the zinc transport ability of zinc transporters can be controlled by phosphorylation, a mechanism previously unprecedented for zinc transporters, will provide an opportunity to target zinc transporters to prevent breast cancer progression. The role of zinc transporters in driving the cellular signalling pathways that cause increased growth, invasion and migration will be examined.
Methods
The student will have the opportunity to use both molecular biological and cell biological techniques, already working within the group, that complement the functional investigation of the group into the workings of the ZIP family of zinc transporters. Furthermore, there is an opportunity to investigate zinc transporter expression by immunohistochemistry in a wide range of clinical material. Additionally, there will be use of fluorescent microscopy to image changes in zinc fluorescent dyes in response to intracellular zinc (3) and monitor changes in cellular location and cell migration in relation to resistance to anti-hormones. The successful progression of the project should allow opportunities to progress findings towards clinical trial development.
Environment
Dr. Kathryn Taylor, currently supported by the Wellcome Trust, is leading the field in discovering the role of ZIP family transporters (7, 8, 9) in intracellular zinc signalling (1) and cancer (1, 3, 4). The department has a large number of PhD students which ensures a lively PhD student community and also runs a fully comprehensive training programme.
For further information please contact [Email Address Removed] stating the project title that you are interested in.
References
1. Hogstrand C, Kille P, Nicholson RI, Taylor KM, (2009) Zinc transporters and Cancer: A potential role for ZIP7 as a hub for tyrosine kinase activation, Trends Mol Med, 15, 101-11.
2. Taylor KM, (2008) A distinct role in breast cancer for two LIV-1 family zinc transporters, Biochem Soc Trans, 36, 1247-51.
3. Taylor, K.M, et al. (2008) ZIP7-mediated intracellular zinc transport contributes to aberrant growth factor signaling in anti-hormone resistant breast cancer cells. Endocrinology. 149,4912-20.
4. Taylor, K.M., et al., (2007) The emerging role of the LIV-1subfamily of zinc transporters in breast cancer, Molecular Medicine, 13 l, 396-406.
5. Taylor, K.M., et al. (2005) Structure-function analysis of a novel member of the LIV-1 subfamily of zinc transporters, ZIP14. FEBS Letters 579, 427-32.
6. Taylor KM, Hiscox S,Nicholson RI.(2004) Zinc transporter LIV-1;A link between cellular development and cancer progression.Trends Endocrin and Metab,15, 461-463.
7. Taylor, K.M., Morgan, H.E., Johnson, A. & Nicholson, R.I., (2004) Structure-Function Analysis of HKE4, a member of the new LIV-1 subfamily of zinc transporters. Biochem J. 377, 131-139.
8. Taylor, K. M., et al., (2003) Structure-Function Analysis of LIV-1, the breast cancer associated protein that belongs to a new subfamily of zinc transporters. Biochem. J. 375, 51-59.
9. Taylor K.M. and Nicholson R.I. (2003) The LZT proteins; the new LIV-1 subfamily of zinc transporters. BBA biomembranes,1611, 16-30
2. Taylor KM, (2008) A distinct role in breast cancer for two LIV-1 family zinc transporters, Biochem Soc Trans, 36, 1247-51.
3. Taylor, K.M, et al. (2008) ZIP7-mediated intracellular zinc transport contributes to aberrant growth factor signaling in anti-hormone resistant breast cancer cells. Endocrinology. 149,4912-20.
4. Taylor, K.M., et al., (2007) The emerging role of the LIV-1subfamily of zinc transporters in breast cancer, Molecular Medicine, 13 l, 396-406.
5. Taylor, K.M., et al. (2005) Structure-function analysis of a novel member of the LIV-1 subfamily of zinc transporters, ZIP14. FEBS Letters 579, 427-32.
6. Taylor KM, Hiscox S,Nicholson RI.(2004) Zinc transporter LIV-1;A link between cellular development and cancer progression.Trends Endocrin and Metab,15, 461-463.
7. Taylor, K.M., Morgan, H.E., Johnson, A. & Nicholson, R.I., (2004) Structure-Function Analysis of HKE4, a member of the new LIV-1 subfamily of zinc transporters. Biochem J. 377, 131-139.
8. Taylor, K. M., et al., (2003) Structure-Function Analysis of LIV-1, the breast cancer associated protein that belongs to a new subfamily of zinc transporters. Biochem. J. 375, 51-59.
9. Taylor K.M. and Nicholson R.I. (2003) The LZT proteins; the new LIV-1 subfamily of zinc transporters. BBA biomembranes,1611, 16-30
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