H?fken, Thomas - Brunel University - Department of Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences

个人简介

1998: PhD, University of Marburg and University of Bochum (Germany) 1993: Diplom (equivalent to MSc) in Biology, University of Bochum (Germany) Since 2010: Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences, Brunel University London 2004-2010: Lecturer, University of Kiel (Germany) 2002-2004: Postdoctoral Scientist, Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Manchester 2000-2002: Postdoctoral Scientist, Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow 1998-1999: Postdoctoral Scientist, University of Bern (Switzerland)

研究领域

Cell polarisation is critical for numerous biological processes such as asymmetric cell division, cell migration and cell morphology. The Rho type GTPase Cdc42 plays a crucial role in the establishment and maintenance of cell polarity in eukaryotes. We study the underlying molecular mechanisms of cell polarisation using the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our research focuses on the identification and characterization of novel functions of the Cdc42 effectors and p21-activated kinases (PAKs) Ste20, Cla4 and Skm1. Previously we have demonstrated that these proteins regulate the localisation of Cdc42, exit from mitosis and lipid homeostasis. Currently, we examine the role of the PAKs Ste20, Cla4 and Skm1 in the regulation of transcription and vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) activity. Many fungal pathogens of humans such as Candida albicans are capable of reversible transitions between yeast and filamentous forms. These transitions are regulated by the PAKs Ste20 and CaCla4 and play an important role in the virulence of these pathogens. We examine the underlying molecular mechanisms.

近期论文

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Kennedy, H. , Haack, TB. , Hartill, V. , Matakovic, L. , et al. (2016) 'Sudden cardiac death due to deficiency of the mitochondrial inorganic pyrophosphatase PPA2'. The American journal of human genetics. Download publication Woods, K. and H?fken, T. (2015) 'The zinc cluster proteins Upc2 and Ecm22 promote filamentation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by sterol biosynthesis-dependent and -independent pathways.'. Mol Microbiol. doi: 10.1111/mmi.13244 Download publication Blanda, C. and H?fken, T. (2013) 'Regulation of mating in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by the zinc cluster proteins Sut1 and Sut2'. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 438 (1). pp. 66 - 70. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.07.027 Download publication Foster, HA. , Cui, M. , Naveenathayalan, A. , Unden, H. , et al. (2013) 'The zinc cluster protein Sut1 contributes to filamentation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae'. Eukaryot Cell, 12 (2). pp. 244 - 253. doi: 10.1128/EC.00214-12 Download publication Lin, M. , Li, SC. , Kane, PM. and H?fken, T. (2012) 'Regulation of vacuolar H -ATPase activity by the Cdc42 effector Ste20 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae'. Eukaryotic Cell, 11 (4). pp. 442 - 451. doi: 10.1128/EC.05286-11 Download publication Lin, M. , Grillitsch, K. , Daum, G. , Just, U. and H?fken, T. (2009) 'Modulation of sterol homeostasis by the Cdc42p effectors Cla4p and Ste20p in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae'. FEBS Journal, 276 (24). pp. 7253 - 7264. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2009.07433.x Download publication Lin, M. , Unden, H. , Jacquier, N. , Schneiter, R. , et al. (2009) 'The Cdc42 effectors Ste20, Cla4, and Skm1 down-regulate the expression of genes involved in sterol uptake by a mitogen-activated protein kinase-independent pathway'. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 20 (22). pp. 4826 - 4837. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E09-01-0034 Download publication Tiedje, C. , Holland, DG. , Just, U. and Hofken, T. (2007) 'Proteins involved in sterol synthesis interact with Ste20 and regulate cell polarity'. Journal of Cell Science, 120 (20). pp. 3613 - 3624. doi: 10.1242/jcs.009860 H?fken, T. and Schiebel, E. (2004) 'Novel regulation of mitotic exit by the Cdc42 effectors Gic1 and Gic2'. Journal of Cell Biology. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200309080 Download publication H?fken, T. and Schiebel, E. (2002) 'A role for cell polarity proteins in mitotic exit'. EMBO Journal, 21 (18). pp. 4851 - 4862. doi: 10.1093/emboj/cdf481 Weber, H. , Wagner, ACC. , Jonas, L. , Merkord, J. , et al. (2000) 'Heat shock response is associated with protection against acute interstitial pancreatitis in rats'. Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 45 (11). pp. 2252 - 2264. doi: 10.1023/A:1026459001195 H?fken, T. , Keller, N. , Fleischer, F. , G?ke, B. and Wagner, ACC. (2000) 'Map kinase phosphatases (MKP's) are early responsive genes during induction of cerulein hyperstimulation pancreatitis'. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 276 (2). pp. 680 - 685. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.2000.3530 Pereira, G. , H?fken, T. , Grindlay, J. , Manson, C. and Schiebel, E. (2000) 'The Bub2p spindle checkpoint links nuclear migration with mitotic exit'. Molecular Cell, 6 (1). pp. 1 - 10. Metzler, W. , H?fken, T. , Weber, H. , Printz, H. , et al. (1999) 'Hyperthermia, inducing pancreatic heat-shock proteins, fails to prevent cerulein-induced stress kinase activation'. Pancreas, 19 (2). pp. 150 - 157. Wagner, ACC. , Metzler, W. , H?fken, T. , Weber, H. and G?ke, B. (1999) 'p38 Map kinase is expressed in pancreas and is immediately activated following Cerulein hyperstimulation'. Digestion, 60 (1). pp. 41 - 47. doi: 10.1159/000007587 H?fken, T. , Linder, D. , Kleene, R. , G?ke, B. and Wagner, ACC. (1998) 'Membrane dipeptidase and glutathione are major components of pig pancreatic zymogen granules'. Experimental Cell Research, 244 (2). pp. 481 - 490. doi: 10.1006/excr.1998.4233