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A photo of Dr. Georgi Lukov.

Georgi Lukov

Professor
Faculty of Sciences

SCIENCE BUILDING 320
55-220 Kulanui Street, Bldg. 5
Laie, Hawaii 96762

Professional Development

  • 2017 - Present - Associate Professor, Department of Natural Sciences, Brigham Young University-Hawai
  • 2010 - 2017 -Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Physical Science, Brigham Young University-Hawaii
  • 2006 – 2010 - Postdoctoral Research Associate, Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
  • 2001 – 2005 - Ph.D., Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
  • 1991 – 1997 - M.D., Medical University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Research Interest

My current research is focused on three main areas:

  1. Vector design.
  2. Chaperon assisted protein folding.
  3. Post-translations modification and processing of the LYL1 transcription factor.

Vector Design

Often in cell-based or animal-model functional studies the co-expression of two or more genes is desired. In addition, for tracking purposes, co-expression of a marker can be essential. Current commercial vectors, with the help of an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES), allow simultaneous expression of up to two genes. The objective of this project is to design vectors with the ability to express three or more genes at the same time.

Chaperon assisted protein folding

Our previous research has shown that the Phosducin-like protein (PhLP) acts as a co-chaperone in the process of G-beta protein folding by the cytosolic chaperoning complex, CCT. Our current work is focused on understanding the collaborative work of CCT and PhLP as protein chaperones for G-beta and perhaps other proteins?

Post-translations modification and processing of the LYL1 transcription factor

Our goal is to understand how the expression and the activity of the Lymphoblastic leukemia 1 gene, LYL1, are regulated posttranslationally. Specifically, identifying and functionally characterizing posttranslational modifications such as, phosphorylation, ubiquitination and sumoylation, and their effect on LYL1 stability and degradation. We are also trying to understand the mechanisms responsible for LYL1 overexpression in leukemic cells.

Research Group

Current Members:

  • Diana Hawkins
  • Gerome Romero
  • Joshua Jackson
  • Quinn Nally

Past Members:

  • Jorey Cunico - graduated; currently, Pathology Tech, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Samuel (AJ) Patha - graduated; currently, graduates student, Masters in Public Health, BYU, Provo
  • Tsz Yin Chan - graduated; currently, Biochemistry Ph.D. student at BYU, Provo
  • Tsz Ming Tsang (Jeremy) - graduated; currently, Biochemistry Ph.D. student at BYU, Provo
  • Kaeo Everett - graduated; currently, Biochemistry Ph.D. student at BYU, Provo
  • Wai Shun Mak (Wilson) - graduated; currently, Bio-organic Ph.D. student at University of California, Davis
  • Kwok Ching Lam (Rex) - graduated; currently, graduate student, Nursing, Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Maheshwari Rajan - returned to India

Publications

  • Zohren, F., Souroullas, G.P., Luo, M., Gerdemann, U., Imperato, M.R., Wilson, N.K., Gottgens, B., Lukov, G.L., Goodell, M.A. "Lymphoblastic leukemia 1 (Lyl1) regulates lymphoid specification and maintenance of early T lineage progenitors" – Nat Immunol. 2012, 13, 761-769
  • King, K.Y., Baldridge, M.T., Weksberg, D.C., Chambers, S.M., Lukov, G.L., Wu, S., Boles, N.C., Jung, N.C., Qin, J., Liu, D., Songyang, Z., Eissa, N.T., Taylor, G.A., Goodell, M.A. “Irgm1 protects hematopoietic stem cells by negative regulation of IFN signaling” – Blood, 2011, 118, 1525-1533.
  • Boles, N.C., Lin, K.K., Lukov, G.L., Bowman, T.V., Baldridge, M.T., Goodell, M.A. “CD48 on hematopoietic progenitors regulates stem cells and suppresses tumor formation” – Blood, 2011, 118, 80-87.
  • Sirin, O., Lukov, G.L., Mao, R., Conneely, O.M., Goodell, M.A. “The orphan nuclear receptor Nurr1 restricts the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells” – Nat Cell Biol. 2010, 12, 1213-1219
  • Lukov, G.L., Rossi, L., Souroullas, G.P., Mao, R., Goodell, M.A. ” The expansion of T-cells and hematopoietic progenitors as a result of overexpression of the lymphoblastic leukemia gene, Lyl1 can support leukemia formation” – Leuk. Res. 2011, 35, 405-412
  • Lukov, G.L., Goodell, M.A. ” LYL1 degradation by the proteasome is directed by a N-terminal PEST rich site in a phosphorylation-independent manner” – PLoS ONE 2010, 5, e12692.
  • Lukov, G.L., Baker, C.M., Ludtke, P.J., Hu, T., Carter, M.D., Hackett, R.A., Thulin, C.D., Willardson, B.M. ”Mechanism of assembly of G protein bg subunits by protein kinase CK2-phosphorylated phosducin-like protein and the cytosolic chaperonin complex” J. Biol. Chem. 2006, 281, 22261-22274.
  • Lukov, G.L., Hu, T., McLaughlin, J.N., Hamm, H.E., Willardson, B.M. ”Phosducin-like protein acts as a molecular chaperone for G protein bg dimer assembly” EMBO J. 2005, 24, 1965-1975.
  • Carter, M.D., Southwick, K., Lukov, G., Willardson, B.M., Thulin, C.D. ”Identification of phosphorylation sites on phosducin-like protein by QTOF mass spectrometry” J. Biomol. Tech. 2004, 4, 257-264.
  • Lukov, G.L., Myung, C.S., McIntire, W.E., Shao, J., Zimmerman, S.S., Garrison, J.C., Willardson, B.M. ”Role of the isoprenyl pocket of the G protein beta gamma subunit complex in the binding of phosducin and phosducin-like protein” Biochemistry 2004, 43, 5651-5660.
Tags
Biology Program Biochemistry Program

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