Value proposition

The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC-PPU), based at The University of Dundee, in Scotland, is a major research centre that focuses on the understanding of the biological roles of phosphorylation and ubiquitylation and how disruption of these processes cause human diseases such as neurodegeneration, cancer, hypertension and immune disorders. The ultimate goal of the Unit's research programmes is to help develop new improved strategies to treat disease.

The MRC-PPU pioneered analysis of the selectivity of protein kinase inhibitors by setting up the first service to tackle this problem in 1998. This procedure, termed "kinase profiling"​ proved to be of great help to the pharmaceutical industry, speeding up the development of specific protein kinase inhibitors with therapeutic potential. In keeping with its history of advancing technologies, now in 2015, the Unit will launch an effort that enables scientists around the world to interrogate a key target in the ubiquitin field -- de-ubiquitylases (DUBs), enzymes which remove ubiquitin linkages from substrates and represent an untapped target area.

A vital asset of the MRC-PPU is the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy (DSTT) which was established in 1998. This division operates as a unique collaboration between scientists in the MRC-PPU, signalling researchers at the University of Dundees College of Life Sciences and six of the worlds leading pharmaceutical companies -- AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Merck Serono and Pfizer. The DSTT is widely regarded as a model for how academia should interact with industry.

Our aim for the MRC PPU is to operate as one of the world's leading centres for the investigation of signal transduction pathways involving protein phosphorylation and ubiquitylation networks. We are also keen to make our range of essential resources and services available to aide with worldwide research in this area.

Phosphorylation, Ubiquitylation, Signal Transduction, Oncology, Parkinson's Disease, Neurodegenerative Disorders, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, and Cardiology