Professor Michele Vendruscolo

The overall objective of our research is to understand the principles governing protein homeostasis - the ability of cells to generate and regulate the levels of proteins in terms of conformations, interactions, concentrations and cellular localisation. By adopting the strategy of analysing the origins of specific diseases to inform us about normal biology, we have set up an interdisciplinary programme that involves bringing together methods and concepts from chemistry, physics, engineering, genetics and medicine. We are using a combination of in vitro, in silico and in vivo approaches to study protein homeostasis through the analysis of the effects that result from its alteration in a select group of specific proteins, from either amino acid mutations, or changes in concentration and solubility, or the interactions with other molecules. This programme is generating new insights into the mechanism through which physical and chemical sciences can address biological questions in order to understand the normal behaviour of living systems. In addition it is increasing our understanding of the nature and consequences of the failure to maintain homeostasis, which is associated with such phenomena as ageing and neurodegenerative disorders.