Targeting metabolic vulnerability in chronic myeloid leukaemia by serine restriction
We have an opportunity for a Research Associate to join the School of Cancer Sciences.
The successful candidate will contribute to/make a leading contribution to a project “Targeting metabolic vulnerability in chronic myeloid leukaemia by serine restriction”, working with Professor Vignir Helgason’s Lab at the Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Glasgow.
The Helgason Lab (X Instagram Facebook) has demonstrated that inhibition of folate metabolism (also referred to as one-carbon metabolism) reduces de novo purine synthesis and drives differentiation of CML cells through mTORC1 mediated purine sensing (bioRxiv). We also have strong preliminary data suggesting that CML cells may depend on serine (major one-carbon donor) for optimal proliferation and survival (Thesis).
The aim of this project is to uncover the importance of serine catabolism for CML stem cells and propose that dietary amino acid restriction can be tested therapeutically in future clinical trials in stem cells driven leukaemias.