Master/Semester Project: Complexity of Mitochondrial Transporters in KRAS-driven Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers world-wide and treatment options remain limited. However, large-scale proteogenomic studies have identified several major molecular subgroups to better characterize the disease. One of these subgroups is defined by metabolic alterations and mutations in the KRAS proto-oncogene. It is unclear how KRAS mutations are mechanistically-linked to metabolic changes, although mitochondria-specific metabolism plays an important role. This project for a 3 or 6 month master’s student explores the complexity of cancer cell metabolism. Specifically, using CRISPR/Cas9 engineered knock-out cell lines and cell lines isogenic for KRAS mutations, the prospective student will perform quantitative metabolomics, tumor spheroid assays, and assays in molecular and cancer biology. Together this work involves expertise in human cell culture models and quantitative metabolomics.

For more information please contact Dr. Peter Doubleday at