Biochemical and biophysical characterization of human 15LOX-2 and protein : protein interactions study of sphingosine kinase 1

Abstract

Lipid metabolism involved in the regulation of many cellular processes such as cell growth, inflammation, apoptosis, and more are controlled by multiple lipid signaling pathways. I have been working on three of these pathways, namely phosphoinositide signaling, arachidonic acid metabolism, and sphingolipids signaling pathway. De-regulation of these pathways occur when the signaling molecules homeostasis are disturbed, which in turns result in pathogenesis of human diseases. In this thesis, I will focus on the h15LOX-2 in the arachidonic pathway and sphingosine kinase 1 in sphingolipids signaling pathway. By studying the biophysical characteristic of these two enzymes, I hope to understand the mechanisms in disease progression and to provide new leads in drug development.