L O O G L A B

OUR FOCUS AREAS

A molecular biology laboratory in Estonia

Kinase signaling circuits

We use both in vitro and in vivo quantitative approaches to study the logic of biological signaling via protein phosphorylation

Multisite phosphorylation

Our special focus is to understand the processing of kinase signals via multisite phosphorylation networks in disordered proteins

Synthetic biology

we develop phosphorylation-based synthetic circuits and make first steps in yeast cell factory design

About us

Engineering of synthetic circuits inspired by natural phosphorylation systems

A living cell contains thousands of molecules that mediate the cellular response to different stimuli. The networks of these molecules form a huge web of signaling circuits. Among the most important components of these circuits are protein kinases. These proteins act as molecular switches: they attach phosphoryl groups to proteins and this change mediates the transfer of signaling information.

We want to understand the phenomenon of multisite protein phosphorylation. This is a process where protein kinases add multiple phosphates to a protein and the patterns of phosphates act as complex signal processors. We look how such molecular switches regulate the cell division.

Our greater vision is to apply the discovered rules of multisite phosphorylation to engineer synthetic circuits for synthetic biology. One practical application of such “molecular toolbox” of processors and circuit elements would be to use them in designer cells that act as cell factories producing pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals via sustainable bioprocessing.

Mart established the lab in 2006 after his post-doctoral work at UCSF in Professor David Morgan’s lab. The newly built Institute of Technology, at the University of Tartu offered an excellent opportunity and resources for repatriating post-docs and international researchers to set up their independent research directions.

The lab was largely established with the help of funds from Wellcome Trust and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Currently the main source of funding is an ERC Consolidator Grant.

The lab was largely established with the help of funds from Wellcome Trust and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Currently the main source of funding is an ERC Consolidator Grant. In recent years, Prof. Mart Loog has initiated and lead the effort to establish the Estonian Centre for Synthetic Biology (ECSB), and several separate laboratories of the Centre, including the Laboratory of Synthetic Biology of Cell Factories, the Laboratory for Gas Fermentation, and the Laboratory of Wood Chemistry and Bioprocessing .

OUR TEAM

MART LOOG

Head of Laboratory, PI

ILONA FAUSTOVA

Research Fellow, PhD

RAINIS VENTA

Research Fellow

ERVIN VALK

Research Fellow

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