| Summary: | Cullin 7 (Cul7) is a member of the cullin protein family that is emerging as a complex anti-apoptotic player in tumourigenesis. We hypothesize that by determining the mechanism through which Cul7 can protect against specific forms of cell death, we will uncover novel molecular pathways important in cancer. We aimed to address mechanism by evaluating which domains within Cul7 are important for its activity. Thus, we have introduced mutations in each of the Cul7 domains and asked whether any of these has an effect on the ability of Cul7 to inhibit cell death. To be able to detect even subtle affects of mutation, we required that mutants be assessed in appropriate experimental systems where ectopic wild-type Cul7 could robustly inhibit death compared to vector controls. We screened multiple cell lines and agonists, and have now indentified conditions in U2OS and SHEP cell lines in which our mutants can be evaluated.
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