How do enzymes called ubiquitin ligases control new blood vessel growth?

Ubiquitin ligase control of angiogenesis

Dr Sreenivasan Ponnambalam and his colleagues at the University of Leeds are studying what controls new blood vessel growth, to find new ways of repairing damaged blood vessels. Blood vessels are an essential network of biological tubes supplying oxygen around the body. When blood flow is disrupted, the lack of oxygen in the affected area can cause serious damage. Stimulating new blood vessels to grow and sprout from existing blood vessels - a process called angiogenesis - could help to restore blood flow to affected areas. Activation of a molecule called VEGFR2 is known to stimulate angiogenesis. Dr Ponnambalam has already found that a group of enzymes called ubiquitin ligases control levels of VEGFR2, by ‘marking’ the VEGFR2 molecules to be broken down. In this project, Dr Ponnambalam wants to work out how different ubiquitin ligases regulate VEGFR2 levels and in turn influence new blood vessel growth and development. This research could reveal new ways to restore blood flow after a heart attack.