Andrei Khokhlatchevz, PhD, University of Virginia

The Khokhlatchev laboratory is interested in Ras signal transduction and the molecular mechanisms of tumor suppression, focusing on the novel family of tumor suppressors represented by NORE1 and RASSF1. In humans, Ras is the most common dominant oncogene, especially in tumors of epithelial origin. Ras activation often leads to uncontrolled cell proliferation and tumor development. Therefore, it is likely that there are molecular mechanisms in cells that sense the suitability of Ras activation, and in the case of inappropriate activation, blocks cell proliferation or eliminate the cell.

To understand the molecular mechanisms of NORE1 tumor suppression, the laboratory is performing structure-functional studies of NORE1A to determine and characterize regions of the molecule essential for growth and tumor suppression and is studying mechanism of NORE1A activation by Ras.

Part of The Investigator's Annexe program.