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Cancer and metastasis are associated with abnormal cellular signaling. Our goal is to understand how the Rho family of signaling proteins function in normal cells and how their signaling is altered in cancer and metastasis. In addition, we are applying novel high-throughput screening methods to identify drug-like molecules that target Rho signaling pathways. We use these compounds to study protein function in the laboratory and to validate new therapeutic approaches to cancer.

1. Deacon SW, Beeser A, Fukui JA et al. An isoform-selective, small-molecule inhibitor targets the autoregulatory mechanism of p21-activated kinase. Chem Biol. 2008;15(4):322-31. PubMed
2. Rennefahrt UE, Deacon SW, Parker SA et al. Specificity profiling of Pak kinases allows identification of novel phosphorylation sites. J Biol Chem. 2007;282(21):15667-78. PubMed
3. Peterson JR, Lebensohn AM, Pelish HE et al. Biochemical suppression of small-molecule inhibitors: a strategy to identify inhibitor targets and signaling pathway components. Chem Biol. 2006;13(4):443-52. PubMed
4. Pelish HE, Peterson JR, Salvarezza SB et al. Secramine inhibits Cdc42-dependent functions in cells and Cdc42 activation in vitro. Nat Chem Biol. 2006;2(1):39-46. PubMed
5. Peterson JR, Bickford LC, Morgan D et al. Chemical inhibition of N-WASP by stabilization of a native autoinhibited conformation. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2004;11(8):747-55. PubMed
6. Peterson JR, Lokey RS, Mitchison TJ et al. A chemical inhibitor of N-WASP reveals a new mechanism for targeting protein interactions. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2001;98(19):10624-9. PubMed