Research Group MACINNES

Hubrecht Institute for Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research
Contact: Dr. Alyson MacInnes
E-mail: a.macinnes@hubrecht.eu
Website: http://www.hubrecht.eu/research/macinnes/index.html

General research focus: Translation and cancer

Our lab is interested in how nucleolar proteins function in development and disease.
The nucleolus is the cell organelle where ribosome biogenesis takes place, a highly regulated and complex process that is fundamental for translating mRNAs into protein.
Using the zebrafish as a model organism, we are studying mutations of certain nucleolar proteins involved in ribosome biogenesis and the effects these mutations have on the organism. For example, the heterozygous loss of several ribosomal protein genes result in zebrafish that are highly predisposed to developing cancer.  Similar mutations in humans are also known to predispose individuals to leukemia.
The main goal of the lab is to unravel the molecular mechanisms by which these mutations result in cancer.

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