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 Douglas A. Andres Professor B.S. University of Wisconsin, Madison Ph.D. Purdue University dandres@uky.edu 859-257-6775
 Research Overview Cells are highly responsive to signals from their environment. These signals include growth factors, hormones, or even neuronal firing. The sensing and processing of these signals are carried out by molecular circuits within the cell which detect, amplify and integrate these environmental cues into a specific response. Ras-related GTP-binding proteins function as GTP/GDP- regulated “switches” and are widely utilized in the cellular response pathways. Ras family proteins respond to extracellular stimuli by exchanging GTP for bound GDP, thereby triggering intracellular signaling cascades through their GTP-dependent interaction with a variety of target molecule(s) to produce a characteristic cellular effect. My laboratory is interested in deciphering the role of Ras GTPases in various cellular paradigms, as Ras family G-proteins play key roles in the ontogency of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease as well as the processes of neuronal survival and axonal growth. Because we have studied the function of several GTPases in some detail, I will review some of our findings in this area and briefly outline our current research interests. Research Interests Subjects: Regulation of Neuronal Survival by the Rit and Rin GTPases. Regulation of Calcium Channel Function by the Rem/Rem2 GTPases. Characterization of a novel breast cancer tumor suppressor. Design and evaluation of anti-cancer therapeutics.
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