Department of Biology, Carleton University
Identification of new substrates of the histone methyltransferase enzyme, SMYD3, and their implication in lung cancer development
Lysine methylation plays a critical role in the development of many human diseases. These small chemical protein modifications allow cells to exert greater control over protein function. Importantly, proteins that control this lysine methylation modification are often major drivers of cancer.
Dr Biggar’s lab is using modern biochemical approaches to investigate the function of the histone regulator SMYD3. In lung cancer patients, analysis showed that SMYD3 expression predicted both progression and survival. The research team will work to identify new proteins that are modified by SMYD3 to advance understanding of how SMYD3 dysfunction drives cancer.