Prof. Elah Pick
Associate Professor, Department Head
The central goal of our lab is to investigate fundamental mechanisms required to maintain protein homeostasis (proteostasis). Our primary interest focuses on the relationship between environmental stresses and the posttranslational modification of proteins with the small ubiquitin-like polypeptide, NEDD8/Rub1 (Related Ubiquitin 1), a key regulator of protein turnover, with a major role in responding to environmental stresses. Proteostasis failure has been reported in the context of cancers, age-associated diseases and neurodegeneration. We approach various methods such as genetic engineering, biochemistry and proteomics, which allow understanding of the molecular mechanisms in the context of evolution, environment and pathology.
Academic Background
B.Sc. Biology and Environment, University of Haifa
M.Sc. Neurobiochemistry, Tel Aviv University
Ph.D. Biology, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
Selected Publications
Yu, Z., Kleifeld, O., Lande-Atir A., Bsoul, M., Kleiman, M., Krutauz, D., Book, A., Vierstra, A.D., Hofmann, K., Glickman, M.H.+ and Pick, E. (2011) Dual function of Rpn5 in two PCI complexes, the 26S proteasome and the COP9 signalosome. Molecular Biology of the Cell 22: 911-20.
Pick, E., Golan, A., Zimbler J.Z., Guo, L., Sharaby, Y., Tsuge, T., Hofmann, K., Wei, N. (2012) The Minimal Deneddylase Core of the Cop9 Signalosome Excludes the Csn6 MPN- Domain. PLoS One. 7:e43980. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043980.
Serino, G. and Pick, E. (2013) Duplication and familial promiscuity within the proteasome lid and COP9 signalosome kin complexes. Plant Science. DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2012.12.018.
Mahon, C.S., Krogan, N.J., Craig, C.S., and Pick, E., (2014) Cullin E3 Ligases and Their Rewiring by Viral Factors. Biomolecules 4:897-930
Bramasole, L., Sinha, A., Gurevich, S., Radzinski, M., Klein, Y., Panat, N., Gefen, E., Rinaldi, T., Jimenez-Morales, D., Johnson, J., Krogan, NJ., Reis, N., Reichmann, D., Glickman, MH., Pick, E. (2019) Proteasome lid bridges mitochondrial stress with Cdc53/Cullin1 NEDDylation status. Redox Biology. 20:533-543.
Bramasole, L., Sinha, A., Harshuk, D., Cirigliano, A., Gurevich, S., Yu, Z., Carmeli, RL., Glickman, MH., Rinaldi, T., Pick, E. (2019) The proteasome lid triggers COP9 signalosome activity during the transition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells into quiescence. Biomolecules. (9). pii: E449.
Teaching
Molecular Biology, Cell Biology