Methodology for x-ray crystallography (Leukemia)

The Minor laboratory works on structural biology of numerous cancer-related proteins.  This includes the studies of the lipoxygenase mechanism of action. Detailed understanding of that mechanism is important as it was shown recently that:

• Inhibitors of the arachidonic acid pathway have superadditive effects on lung cancer growth inhibition
• 15-lipoxygenase metabolites of gamma-linolenic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid suppress growth and arachidonic acid metabolism in human prostatic adenocarcinoma cells
• The 5-lipoxygenase (5-Lox) pathway contributes to oral carcinogenesis

The lab collaborates with Dr. Bushweller's lab to utilize x-ray crystallography to solve the structures of leukemia-related proteins. In addition, the lab has long been at the forefront of methodological development in x-ray crystallography. The methods developed in this lab are widely applied to many cancer-related proteins, making the overall impact substantial.