Resolving the proteomic programs that regulate normal and malignant hematopoiesis in fetus and adult

Proteins are the machinery of the cell, responsible for executing the functions essential for cells to operate, survive, differentiate and divide. Increasing evidence emphasize that a substantial variance of protein expression is conveyed at the levels of protein synthesis and degradation, and that post-transcriptional control of gene expression plays a critical role in multiple aspects of cell biology, including coordination of cellular processes and rapid alteration of cellular phenotype. Importantly, the proteomic make-up of blood stem cells and progenitors can regulate their cell fate and susceptibility to initiation as well as progression of leukemia. The broad interest of our group lies in understanding the molecular differences between fetal and adult hematopoiesis. By using in-depth mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics to monitor protein levels in a comprehensive and quantitative manner, our ongoing research aims at defining the fetal- and adult-specific proteomic programs that regulate normal and malignant hematopoiesis. Future work will include detailed proteomic profiling of ontogeny-specific leukemic features, investigation of the mechanistic details of hematopoietic stem cell plasticity, as well as specific types of post-translational modifications of particular importance in early hematopoiesis.