Interaction proteomics of RABL3 wild-type and mutant: a Integrated interaction map of the RABL3 and RABL3_p.Ser36* network showing high-confidence candidate interacting proteins. Thickness of RABL3 (black) and RABL3_p.Ser36* (red) arrows denotes NWD scores. RAP1GDS1 interactors identified by AP–MS with RAP1GDS1-tagged bait are grouped by protein family for clarity and denoted by dashed gray lines. b, RAP1GDS1 bait-normalized APSMs for RABL3 versus RABL3_p.Ser36* AP–MS. Graph represents mean ± s.d., independent biological replicates N = 3 for RABL3_p.Ser36*, N = 4 for RABL3. **P = 0.0014 by unpaired two-tailed t-test (t = 7.813, d.f. = 4) 

Sahar Nissim from Wolfram Goessling's Lab leads a study identifying a mutation in RABL3 that is associated with hereditary pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Joe initially helped Sahar to identify the molecular mechanism of RABL3 by performing interaction proteomics of RABL3 and RABL3 mutants. To the left is some of the data from the proteomics. Great work from Sahar - this study now nominates RABL3 as a target for genetic testing in cancer families 

Another successful lab BBQ! 

Joe gives a talk to the Boston/Harvard Cell Death Initiative group on the role of NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy in iron metabolism and ferroptosis.

The lab is excited to welcome Huan Zhang, PhD to the lab! Huan completed her graduate work at the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her graduate work was focused on evolution of transcriptional regulatory networks of phytopathogenic bacteria and bacterial resistance to osmostress. She identified and co-first authored a manuscript in Nature Communications on: Proteolysis of histidine kinase VgrS sequesters two-component signalling and promotes bacterial resistance to osmostress. We're excited for her to transition to work on pancreatic cancer and leverage her expertise in RNA biology towards new projects in the lab investigating the role of RNA binding proteins in pancreatic cancer.

Joe runs in the 11th annual Damon Runyon 5K at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, May 11, 2019!

Text from Damon Runyon: 
"More than 2,100 runners, walkers, cancer survivors, and their friends and family members gathered at Yankee Stadium to raise funds for cancer research.  One of New York’s most unique fundraising events, the Runyon 5K is the only charitable run/walk that uses the iconic Stadium as its course.  100% of donations raised by Runyon 5K participants will directly support innovative young scientists funded by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.  Since inception, the event has raised more than $5.6 million." 
https://www.damonrunyon.org/get-involved/events

Joe attends the 8th Congress of the International BioIron Society held at the EMBL Advanced Training Centre in
Heidelberg, Germany. Joe presents a talk on: ​Ncoa4-mediated ferritinophagy maintains murine erythropoiesis via cell autonomous and non-autonomous mechanisms. The meeting was a great opportunity to catch up with collaborators and hear some exciting new iron metabolism research.

At the closing awards ceremony, Joe is awarded the Best Clinical and Translational Research Award!

Maria Quiles del Rey writes a review evaluating the potential role of NCOA4-mediated ferritin autophagy in modulating neurodegeneration. Given the link between decreased autophagy and increased iron accumulation in the aging brain and especially in patients with neurodegeneration, Maria reviews the available evidence and proposes interesting questions for future study of NCOA4.

Cullen Taniguchi, MD, PhD invites Joe to MD Anderson Cancer Center to present to the Experimental Radiation Oncology Division and the Pancreatic Cancer Research Center. Great chance to catch up with Cullen who is a fellow GI Radiation Oncologist and Pancreatic Cancer researcher.