DrMaruf Ali

Proteins are synthesized as nascent polypeptide chains by the ribosome and must fold into their correct three‑dimensional structures to carry out their specific biological functions within the cell. Their spatial conformation is carefully maintained throughout their functional lifetime, after which they are degraded in a timely and efficient manner.

Mammalian cells contain many thousands of diverse proteins that drive cellular activities, all of which must be precisely regulated. A balanced proteome—referred to as protein homeostasis or proteostasis—relies on the coordinated actions of molecular chaperones, proteolytic systems, protein degradation machineries, and their regulatory factors to ensure proper cellular function and survival.

Protein homeostasis can be disrupted by endogenous or external stresses, leading to the accumulation of misfolded proteins that are toxic to the cell. Understanding how molecular chaperones and other components of the proteostasis network operate is therefore of fundamental medical importance, as failures in protein homeostasis are associated with numerous diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

Lab webpage: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/ali-lab