Background

• Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
  Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
• TSC1 and TSC2
• Mitotic phosphorylation of TSC1
• Centrosomes
• Ploidy
• Funding and awareness

Current projects

• Mitotic phosphorylation of TSC1 and TSC2
• Pharmacologic inhibition of PLK1
• Role of mTOR in centrosome biology and genomic stability

Mutations in the tumor suppressor genes TSC1 and TSC2 in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) and pulmonary Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) lead to aberrant activation of the AKT/mTOR patway, frequently dusregulated also in other forms of cancer. Our goal is to elucidate novel mechanisms and signaling pathways leading to mTOR-dependent tumor formation with the potential for therapeutic intervention. Our work focuses on the functions of the proteins involved in TSC/LAM pathogenesis with regards to cell division.