Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal Statement
PROTEIN S-ACYLATION IN HEALTH AND DISEASE
S-acylation (aka palmitoylation), the reversible attachment of fatty acids onto cysteine residues, regulates a diverse array of proteins and impacts fundamental cellular processes such as signalling, membrane traffic, communication, and growth and division. Defects in S-acylation are linked with cancer, diabetes, and CNS disorders such as intellectual disability, epilepsy, Huntington’s disease and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. In addition, S-acylation is required for infection and virulence of some viruses and parasites. As a result, there is growing interest in the therapeutic potential of targeting the S-acylation machinery, with a major goal being the development of isoform-selective inhibitors against the 23 zDHHC S-acyltransferase enzymes.
OUR RESEARCH
The research that we are undertaking aims to unravel the multitude of functions that S-acylation plays in cellular pathways, in particular, signalling and membrane traffic. In addition, we aim to understand how defects in S-acylation contribute to disorders such as intellectual disability, epilepsy, neurodegeneration, cancer and diabetes. Through this work we hope to identify novel drug targets and new drug treatments for these conditions. We use a wide range of techniques including chemical biology (click chemistry), confocal microscopy, proteomics, and behavioural analyses.
Our research falls into two major programmes:
1. S-acylation and cell function in health and disease
(i) How does dynamic S-acylation of key signalling and trafficking proteins regulate cell pathways and how does disruption of this process cause disease?
(ii) What are the molecular effects of S-acylation that underlie protein regulation?
(iii) Does acyl chain heterogeneity provide functionally distinct pools of the same protein?
2. The zDHHC family of S-acyltransferases
(i) What are the substrate networks of individual zDHHC enzymes, and how is enzyme-substrate specificity encoded?
(ii) How do zDHHC enzymes select specific acyl-CoAs from a mixed population?
(iii) How do multiple zDHHC enzyme isoforms coordinate protein S-acylation at the level of a single intracellular organelle?
(iv) What are the cellular and molecular changes that underlie disease phenotypes caused by ZDHHC mutations?
(v) Can we develop isoform-selective chemical modulators of the zDHHC enzyme family?
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
We would be delighted to hear from post-doctoral researchers interested in developing fellowhsip proposals that can be hosted in our lab. We can offer support and mentorship for fellowship applications.
We are also happy to speak with prospective PhD students who have secured funding.
All enquiries can be directed to [email protected]
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, Role of Cysteine-String Protein in Regulated Exocytosis, University of Liverpool
Award Date: 1 Jan 1998
Bachelor of Science, Microbiology, University of Edinburgh
Award Date: 1 Jan 1994
Keywords
- palmitoylation
- S-acylation
- exocytosis
- lipid raft
- caveolae
- membrane traffic
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Industrial Case Account - University of Strathclyde 2023 | Woodley-Thomas, Charles
Tomkinson, N. (Principal Investigator), Chamberlain, L. (Co-investigator) & Woodley-Thomas, C. (Research Co-investigator)
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
1/10/24 → 1/10/28
Project: Research Studentship Case - Internally allocated
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GLAS-CYTO: AN INTEGRATED FACILITY FOR THE BIOPHYSICAL ANALYSIS OF CELLULAR INTERACTIONS
Burley, G. (Principal Investigator), Chamberlain, L. (Co-investigator), Chow, S. (Co-investigator), Corrigan, D. (Co-investigator), Cunningham, M. R. (Co-investigator), Faulds, K. (Co-investigator), Jamieson, C. (Co-investigator), Rattray, Z. (Co-investigator), Tomkinson, N. (Co-investigator) & Taladriz Sender, A. (Research Co-investigator)
BBSRC (Biotech & Biological Sciences Research Council)
1/08/24 → 31/07/25
Project: Research
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Quantitative analysis of protein lipidation and acyl-CoAs reveals substrate preferences of the S -acylation machinery
Busquets-Hernández, C., Ribó, S., Gratacós-Batlle, E., Carbajo, D., Tsiotsia, A., Blanco-Canosa, J. B., Chamberlain, L. H. & Triola, G., 28 Aug 2024, In: Chemical Science. 15, 32, p. 12845-12855 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile12 Downloads (Pure) -
The endoplasmic reticulum-localized enzyme zDHHC6 mediates S-acylation of short transmembrane constructs from multiple type I and II membrane proteins
Salaun, C., Tomkinson, N. C. O. & Chamberlain, L. H., 31 Oct 2023, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry . 299, 10, 15 p., 105201.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Citations (Scopus)31 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
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Examination of a PhD thesis, University of Sheffield
Chamberlain, L. (Examiner)
25 Feb 2025Activity: Examination types › Examination
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Protein Lipidation: Enzymology, Signaling, Therapeutics
Chamberlain, L. (Invited speaker)
21 Jul 2024 → 25 Jul 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
Equipment
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Leica SP8 Confocal Microscope
Strathclyde Institute Of Pharmacy And Biomedical SciencesFacility/equipment: Equipment