Our cells are exposed to a number of environmental stressors including extreme temperature and exposure to toxins. We look at how the cells respond to these stresses and what changes take place. By better understanding these changes, we hope to improve the capacity of cells to adapt and cope with stress.
RNA viruses and host interactions
We are interested in studying virus pathogenesis and persistence; using the RNA viruses, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Zika virus as models. In particular, we are studying the interplay between the unfolded protein response, innate immunity and translational evasion in virus infections.
We are also interested in the role of the HCV internal ribosome entry site in adaptation of the virus to oxidative stress; in particular, we are exploring the ‘quasispecies’ theory of ‘survival of the flattest’.
Principal investigator: Dr Shiu-Wan Chan
The control of protein homeostasis during oxidative stress
We are interested in understanding the responses of eukaryotic cells to stress conditions, with a particular focus on oxidative stress. As such we study the regulation of protein synthesis and homeostasis during stress conditions.
We also study the regulation of redox homeostasis in response to changing growth and stress conditions, particular the role of regulatory thiol oxidation as a major reversible post translational modification that regulates protein activity.
Principal investigator: Professor Chris Grant
The cellular response to stress
Our research is focused on how cells respond to stress to regulate gene expression, cellular functions and organismal health. We are interested in how mitochondria sense stress and communicate this to the nucleus to alter the transcriptional programme, and how stress affects protein translation and cell survival.
Principal investigator: Dr Alan Whitmarsh