Oreste Acuto

We are interested in understanding how T lymphocytes, central actors of adaptive immune responses, become activated when they encounter foreign substances. Towards this goal, we dissect the molecular mechanisms of the signals received by T lymphocytes that underlie this process. We study how intracellular signals are generated, propagated, regulated and stored to promote cellular proliferation and differentiation. To investigate the mechanism of T cell activation, we employ state-of-the-art quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics and integrate this approach with in vitro and in vivo genetic manipulation, including siRNA and mutant mouse strains and pharmacological tools. Research Details  TCR signal transduction: regulation of Lck activity and TCR triggering mechanism  Architecture and regulation of the TCR 'signalosome' Role of protein arginine methylation in T cell activation, proliferation and differentiation Click here for details of project available through 4 year DPhil Departmental Studentship Competition 2013