Disease Processes

Many chronic and degenerative diseases involve inflammation and oxidative stress. Cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease all are characterized by inflammation, the production of oxidants and oxidative damage. Reactive products of lipid and carbohydrate oxidation react with proteins, but the targets of these endogenous electrophiles and the consequences of protein modification are poorly understood. Our research examines the reactions of endogenous electrophilic products of lipid and carbohydrate oxidation with proteins in cell model systems. The goal of this work is to identify critical protein targets of electrophiles, to identify features of protein structures and electrophile chemistry that directs the reactions and to characterize the fate of damaged proteins.