Decoding the role and regulation of Wnt/STOP in drug-resistant cancer cells for personalized treatment strategies (B10*)

• Subject Area: Plant Cell and Developmental Biology
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 331351713

This project addresses a critical gap in understanding how nutrient stress, specifically an amino acid downshift, intersects with Wnt/STOP and influences response to chemotherapy in drug resistant cancer cells. We will mechanistically define how GSK3-dependent proteasomal degradation is coupled to amino acid availability and will decipher how Wnt/STOP dependency varies across cancer types. Ultimately, we will leverage these insights to develop targeted therapeutic strategies to overcome drug resistance.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1324: Mechanisms and functions of Wnt signaling
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Laura Hinze