Research Interests
The metabolic status of a cell guides critical downstream decisions such as growth, death or differentiation. We aim to understand the fundamental signalling mechanisms that allow mammalian cells to respond when challenged with metabolic stress. We are particularly focused on the autophagy pathway, which is the main route for channelling cellular material to the lysosome for degradation and internal recycling. Autophagy also serves a critical role for maintaining metabolic homeostasis by degrading mitochondria (a process known as mitophagy) when they become damaged through normal cellular aging. We are now committed to investigate the roles and regulation of this autophagy – mitophagy interaction.
Please see: Chan lab webpage for our story and research opportunities.
Sponsors:
We are currently by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canada Cancer Research Society.
Publications
Punter, K. B., C. Chu, and E. Y. W. Chan. (2022) Mitochondrial Dynamics and Oxidative Phosphorylation as Targets in Cancer. Endocr Relat Cancer. http://dx.doi.org/10.1530/ERC-22-0229.
Abdullah, M.O., Zeng, R.X., Margerum, C.L., Papadopoli, D., Monnin, C., Punter, K.B., Chu, C., Al-Rofaidi, M., Al-Tannak, N.F., Berardi, D., Rattray, Z., Rattray, N.J.W., Abraham, S.A., Eskelinen, E.L., Watson, D.G., Avizonis, D., Topisirovic, I., and Chan, E.Y.W. (2022). Mitochondrial hyperfusion via metabolic sensing of regulatory amino acids. Cell Rep 40, 111198.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111198
Grenier-Pleau, I., Tyryshkin, K., Le, T.D., Rudan, J., Bonneil, E., Thibault, P., Zeng, K., Lässer, C., Mallinson, D., Lamprou, D., Hui, J., Postovit, L.M., Chan, E.Y.W. and Abraham, S.A. (2020). Blood extracellular vesicles from healthy individuals regulate hematopoietic stem cells as humans age. Aging Cell, 19:e13245.
https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.13245
Radhi, O. A., S. Davidson, F. Scott, R. X. Zeng, D. H. Jones, N. C. O. Tomkinson, J. Yu, and E. Y. W. Chan. (2019) Inhibition of the Ulk1 Protein Complex Suppresses Staphylococcus-Induced Autophagy and Cell Death. J Biol Chem.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.RA119.008923.
Anwar, T., X. Liu, T. Suntio, A. Marjamaki, J. Biazik, E. Y. W. Chan, M. Varjosalo, and E. L. Eskelinen. (2019) Er-Targeted Beclin 1 Supports Autophagosome Biogenesis in the Absence of Ulk1 and Ulk2 Kinases. Cells 8.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cells8050475
Nwadike C., Williamson L.E., Gallagher L.E. , Guan J.-L., Chan E.Y.W. (2018) AMPK inhibits ULK1-dependent autophagosome formation and lysosomal acidification via distinct mechanisms. Mol Cell Biol. 38(10): e00023-18