Galen Collins

Mechanisms of the Ubiquitin Proteasome Pathway

• Shuttling factors play a role in protein degradation by facilitating the transport of ubiquitinated proteins to the proteasome for degradation.
• There are several shuttling factors involved in the Ubiquitin Proteasome Pathway, including p62, NBR1, and NDP52, which recognize and bind to ubiquitinated proteins and transport them to the proteasome.
• Protein degradation can be stimulated by various means, including the use of small molecules that enhance ubiquitination or proteasome activity, as well as the activation of specific signaling pathways that regulate protein turnover.

Applications of the Ubiquitin Proteasome Pathway

• Neurodevelopmental disorders such as Stankiewicz-Isidor Syndrome, Autism, and Trisomy 21 have been linked to dysregulation of the Ubiquitin Proteasome Pathway.
• Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are also associated with dysfunction in the Ubiquitin Proteasome Pathway.
• The Ubiquitin Proteasome Pathway plays a critical role in regulating antigen presentation in the immune system.
• The pathway is also involved in muscle growth and maintenance, as it regulates the turnover of muscle proteins.

Teaching Interests

• General Biochemistry I
• Protein Methods
• Senior Seminar in Biochemistry
• Integrative Metabolic & Medical Biochemistry