Meet Abigail
I am Abigail and last year I completed my undergraduate degree in Medical Biochemistry. I am currently doing an M.Sc by research in Biochemistry. I have a passion for science and the unknown, and I am eager to learn new things.
Inducing cell death in cancer cells using protein-protein interactions
My research is on the interaction between the tumour suppressor protein p53 and the antioxidant enzyme manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). Proteins are large macromolecules serving numerous critical functions. p53 is a protein which prevents neoplastic growth (abnormal cell growth which may be tumorous or even cancerous), through many processes. Mainly, it impedes cell proliferation and induces cell death (apoptosis) in damaged (possibly pre-neoplastic) cells. MnSOD maintains the redox state (the balance between antioxidants and oxidants) of the mitochondrion, an essential energy-producing cell compartment. MnSOD eliminates superoxide radicals, which are reactive chemical species. These may cause significant harm if not tightly regulated, damaging for instance our DNA and proteins. Also, free radicals induce cell death. Preliminary research has found that possibly, p53 interacts directly with MnSOD to inhibit it, ultimately inducing cell death in damaged cells. My research involves the use of refined techniques to investigate the properties of this interaction.
The Next step…
My goal is to investigate further whether abnormal p53 mutations (as what happens in 50% of neoplasms) affect its interaction with MnSOD. I would also like to research further the p53 protein ‘interactome’ within the mitochondrion.
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