Regulation of Cellular Functions

O-GlcNAcylation is an essential post-translational modification that has been detected in nearly every major cellular process. Acting as a primary regulator of cellular nutrient and stress signaling, the O-GlcNAcylation web must efficiently cross-communicate with other regulatory networks to integrate complex cellular stimuli into an appropriate response. Unsurprisingly, dysregulation of O-GlcNAcylation or interruption of cellular cross-talk has been linked to many serious diseases including cancer, diabetes, and neurodegeneration. Understanding the breadth of roles played by O-GlcNAcylation in the cell, mapping their regulator networks, and deciphering their molecular mechanisms in normal and disease states will be crucial for development of novel therapeutic strategies. To this end, we investigate the functional regulation of O-GlcNAc cycling enzymes, rewired O-GlcNAc signaling, and dysregulated pathways that drive malignant phenotypes in cancer and other diseases. These efforts are expected to pave a path toward a better understanding of O-GlcNAc in biology and illuminate new strategies for diagnosis and treatment of many diseases.