Translational and metabolic reprogramming in stress responses and cancer

Lecture Synopsis

mRNA translation (protein synthesis) constitutes one of the major steps in regulation of gene expression. In particular, perturbations in mRNA translation allow rapid changes in the composition of the cellular proteome whereby this process is thought to play a major role in adaptation to a wide variety of stressors. In addition, mRNA translation is amongst the most energy demanding processes in the cell, and is thus a major determinant of cellular energetics. Alterations in mRNA translation and energy metabolism play a major role in homeostatic stress responses, while these processes are frequently dysregulated in pathological states, including cancer. Topics covered in this seminar will include hitherto underappreciated mechanisms of translational regulation, emergence of cellular networks that orchestrate translational activity and cellular energetics, and the molecular underpinnings of metabolic plasticity of cancer cells.

 

About the Speaker

Ivan Topisirovic obtained M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia. During his postdocs in Drs. Borden's and Sonenberg's labs at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, IRIC and Goodman Cancer Centre, he studied the mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and mTOR-dependent mRNA translation, respectively. In 2011, he became a Principal Investigator at the Lady Davis Institute, McGill University. He is currently a Principal Investigator at the Lady Davis Institute and Associate professor in the Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University. Topisirovic was fortunate to be involved in ~ 100 manuscripts which were cited >13,000 times. He is a recipient of several competitive salary awards including CIHR Young Investigator and FRQ-S Junior 2 awards, and his research has been supported by national (e.g. CIHR, CCSRI, CRS, TFRI) and international (e.g. NIH, eRA, STINT) funding agencies. Topisirovic's current research focuses on uncovering the differences between the mechanisms that coordinate signal transduction, mRNA translation and metabolism in homeostasis vs. disease.