‘Autophagy as a mechanism of oxidative stress response’

Host: Ralitsa Madsen 

Venue: Small Lecture Theatre: Medical Sciences Institute, SLS 

Abstract: 

The talk will summarise several ongoing research projects in the lab, primarily focussing on autophagic degradation of mitochondria by autophagy. We show that this homeostatic process, termed mitophagy, is essential for multiple aspects of cellular physiology. Mechanisms allowing autophagy machinery to detect damaged mitochondria producing elevated levels of reactive oxygen species will be discussed. Likewise, the talk will illustrate some mechanistic links between autophagy dysfunction and the loss of cellular function leading to cell death or senescence. Based on our data, we propose that autophagy, and specifically mitophagy, are promising targets for interventions aiming to prevent age-related dysfunction and diseases associated with ageing. 

Scientific background: 

· Reader, Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK, since 2017 

· Lecturer, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, UK, 2011- 2017 

· Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Cambridge, UK, 2003-2011 

· PhD in Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Kyiv, National Academy of Sciences, Ukraine, 2000 

· Research interests: autophagy and its regulation by mTOR signalling in the context of cellular and organismal ageing; role of autophagy in the maintenance of protein, DNA and organelle homeostasis; autophagy as a mechanism of oxidative stress response.