At a Glance

• Studies cells and their loss of growth control in cancer
• Identifies molecular circuitry controlling adaption of the cell surface
• Was awarded the Lloyd S.D. Fogler (QC) Award of Excellence in 2011
• Dr. Dennis’ research has led to an understanding of sugar modification on surface proteins
• Experimental models in mice now indicate that novel treatments will be developed based on these findings for cancer, diabetes and autoimmune disease.

Major Research Activities

Dr. Dennis laboratory is studying the role of N-glycosylation in cytokine receptors, glucagon receptor and solute transporters, their trafficking and signaling in cell culture systems relevant to cancer, diabetes and autoimmunity. This includes discovery and validation of new disease associated genetic polymorphisms. Mass spectrometry for metabolites and N-glycopeptide analysis are being developed. Transgenic mice for tissue-specific over-expression of N-glycolyation enzymes are being made as disease models and therapy testing. Genetic analysis in C. elegans worms has recently reveals that LDL receptor homologues are dependent on N-glycosylation for earliest events in worm development. The human LDL receptor is an important regulator metabolic homeostasis with genetic variants also known to N- glycosylation, thus at the cellular level lessons leaned in the worm model should apply to humans disease.

Dr. Carol Swallow is a clinician-scientist working with Dr. Dennis in his lab on tumor suppressor genes that promote genome instability, a frequent event leading to cancer progression and spread. One copy of the Polo family kinase Plk4/Sak is often lost in human liver cancers, and in mice this event strongly promotes genome instability and liver cancer. Dr. Dennis and Swallow are using screening for Plk4 interacting proteins required for mitosis, cell division and cancer metastasis.

Recent Publications

► Lunenfeld Research Repository