Angeliki Malliri - Overview

Tumour initiation and progression result from inappropriate activation of intracellular signalling cascades. Rho-like GTPases are molecular switches in signalling pathways that regulate actin cytoskeleton organisation and gene transcription. In this way, Rhoproteins influence cell morphology, adhesion, motility, as well as cell cycle progression and cell survival. Rho proteins are essential for Ras-mediated in vitro transformation. Recently, data has emerged to directly implicate Rho proteins in tumour initiation and progression in vivo. Employing mouse as a model organism, our group will determine the contribution of Rho-like molecules to the formation of various tumour types and will concentrate on identifying signalling events downstream of Rho proteins that modulate tumour susceptibility.