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Apoptosis and Cell Death Research
Guy Salvesen, Ph.D.
Apoptosis and Cell Death Research Program Leader
858.646.3114 (phone)
858.795.5274 (fax)
gsalvesen@burnham.org
The human body contains cells with different life expectancies. For example, white blood cells and skin cells are programmed to rapidly die and be replaced by new cells. Others, such as nerve cells in the brain, are programmed to survive the lifetime of the individual and are seldom replaced. The naturally occurring turnover of cells in the body is called programmed cell death (also known as "apoptosis").
Fas FADD (Fas Associated Death Domain) protein All cells are endowed with a genetic program for self-destruction that plays important roles in balancing cell production with cell loss, eliminating virus-infected cells from the body and many other physiological processes. Unfortunately, defects in the regulation of the cell death machinery occur commonly in diseases. Indeed, it is estimated that defects in the program controlling cell lifespan are implicated in over half of the major medical illnesses for which cures or preventions are presently lacking. For example, too much cell death can result in untimely brain cell death, while too little cell death contributes to the cell accumulation seen in cancer.
The Apoptosis and Cell Death Research Program investigates the fundamental molecular mechanisms that control the cell death pathway. Our faculty bring together the talents of molecular and cellular biologists, protein biochemists, peptide chemists, structural biologists, computational biologists, neurobiologists, immunologists and pathobiologists in a highly interactive way.
Research topics include studies of Bcl-2 family proteins, cell death proteases (Caspases) and their activators and inhibitors, studies of mitochondrial involvement in cell death, signal transduction mechanisms used by TNF-family cytokine receptors, as well as elucidation of survival signals delivered through integrins, growth factor receptors and oncoproteins.
Breakthroughs in apoptosis research hold clinical promise for a broad range of diseases. Discoveries by scientists in this program have led to the development of DNA-based and small molecule-based therapeutics that target anti-death genes and proteins in cancer cells, making them easier to kill with conventional chemotherapy,. Numerous other therapies are under development, thanks in part to the work of scientists in this program.
