Understanding the interplay between loss of proteostasis and cellular senescence
Image credit: Al-Mufti, Cranwell, & Samant (2022), ©Elsevier
Loss of proteostasis and cellular senescence are two well-established hallmarks of “normal” ageing, and are linked to almost all major ageing-associated chronic diseases. We are systematically investigating the inter-dependence of these two ageing hallmarks, with the goal of identifying proteostasis network vulnerabilities that could be exploited therapeutically to modulate the senescent cellular state.
Current projects on the proteostasis–senescence axis include:
Re-wiring of misfolded protein clearance pathways in senescent cells
- Project Lead: Todd Watts
- Collaborators: Gabriele Kaminski-Schierle; Tatyana Shelkovnikova; Florian Buettner
Cell non-autonomous stress in senescent cell micro-environments
- Project Lead: Stephen Cranwell; Lauren Wheeler
- Collaborators: Daniel Munoz-Espin; Vito Menella
Targeting proteostasis network vulnerabilities in senescent cells
- Project Lead: Devinda Soegianto; Todd Watts
- Collaborators: Cleo Bishop; Masashi Narita
Rahul Samant
Tenure-track Group Leader
My research interests include all things proteostasis, ubiquitin, proteomics, and ageing.