Prof Peter Parker

Protein Phosphorylation Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute
London

Deciphering the signals in cancer cells

Professor Peter Parker, based at our London Research Institute, is studying the signals that tell cells when to multiply or die. These signals are often faulty in cancer, causing cells to grow out of control.

Inside cells, signals can be passed on by the addition of molecular 'tags' to proteins - a process known as phosphorylation. Professor Parker and his team are investigating protein phosphorylation and how these signals can misfire in cancer cells. In particular, they are focusing on a protein called PKC (Protein Kinase C), which plays a key role in this process and may serve as a new target for cancer treatment.