Mechanisms of O-GlcNAc signalling . (360G-Wellcome-110061_Z_15_Z)

Proteins are molecular machines that perform a plethora of functions to regulate all processes in the human cell, and the development from a single cell into a fully formed organism. During this process, key proteins will need to be switched on or off at particular points in time and this is achieved with chemical modifications, called post-translational modifications. This project is aimed at understanding the function of one such modification, O-GlcNAcylation , on proteins that are required f or development of the early embryo. In humans, an inappropriate level of this modification has been linked to diseases such as diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer's. Using a model system of embryo development, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, we will investigate how this modification is applied to specific proteins and what happens when this modification is increased or decreased. This will help us understand precisely what processes are regulated by this modification. In the longer term, the k nowledge and molecular tools generated as part of this work may be of use in the treatment of human disease.