Professor Nicos Nicola
Details
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Division: Cancer & Haematology
Research Overview
My laboratory has focussed on the molecular regulation of haemopoietic cell production and function for over 30 years. A major emphasis has been on the cytokines that regulate the production and functional activation of granulocytes and macrophages, two types of white blood cells that co-ordinate innate immune responses to bacterial and viral infections. Our work has led to the identification, purification and/or molecular cloning of several important cytokines (G-CSF, GM-CSF and leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF)), the identification and molecular cloning of several cytokine receptors (including the GM-CSF, interleukin-11 and interleukin-13 receptors) and the identification of a new family of inducible, intracellular inhibitors of these cytokine/receptor signalling pathways. These suppressors of cytokine signalling (SOCS) proteins have been shown to have crucial roles in vivo in limiting the extent and duration of responses to various cytokines thus preventing excessive inflammatory and autoimmune responses. We are also investigating the role of cytokines and cytokine signalling pathways in the development and maintenance of leukaemic cell populations and the usefulness of cytokines or cytokine antagonists as therapies or adjunct therapies in cancer treatments.
Selected Publications
- Boyle K, Zhang JG, Nicholson SE, Trounson E, Babon JJ, McManus EJ, Nicola NA, Robb L. Deletion of the SOCS box of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) in embryonic stem cells reveals SOCS box-dependent regulation of JAK but not STAT phosphorylation. Cell Signal. 2009 Mar;21(3):394-404. Epub 2008 Nov 12. PMID: 19056487 [PubMed - in process]
- Babon JJ, Sabo JK, Soetopo A, Yao S, Bailey MF, Zhang JG, Nicola NA, Norton RS. The SOCS Box Domain of SOCS3: Structure and Interaction with the ElonginBC-Cullin5 Ubiquitin Ligase. J Mol Biol. 2008 Sep 12;381(4):928-40 PMID: 18590740 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
- White CA, Zhang JG, Salamonsen LA, Baca M, Fairlie WD, Metcalf D, Nicola NA, Robb L, Dimitriadis E. Blocking LIF action in the uterus by using a PEGylated antagonist prevents implantation: a nonhormonal contraceptive strategy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Dec 4;104(49):19357-62 PMID: 18042698 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
- Huyton T, Zhang JG, Luo CS, Lou MZ, Hilton DJ, Nicola NA, Garrett TP. An unusual cytokine:Ig-domain interaction revealed in the crystal structure of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in complex with the LIF receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Jul 31;104(31):12737-42 PMID: 17652170 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
- Babon JJ, McManus EJ, Yao S, DeSouza DP, Mielke LA, Sprigg NS, Willson TA, Hilton DJ, Nicola NA, Baca M, Nicholson SE, Norton RS. The structure of SOCS3 reveals the basis of the extended SH2 domain function and identifies an unstructured insertion that regulates stability. Mol Cell. 2006 Apr 21;22(2):205-16. PMID: 16630890 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
- Masters SL, Yao S, Willson TA, Zhang JG, Palmer KR, Smith BJ, Babon JJ, Nicola NA, Norton RS, Nicholson SE. The SPRY domain of SSB-2 adopts a novel fold that presents conserved Par-4-binding residues. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2006 Jan;13(1):77-84 PMID: 16369487 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Current Laboratory Members
Faculty Member: Nicos Nicola, AO BSc(Hons) Melb FAA PhD Melb
Scientific Coordinator/Alliance Manager: Sabine Kelly, BSc(Hons) PhD Mon
Senior Postdoctoral Fellow: Nicholas Redpath, BSc Heriot Watt PhD Bristol
Senior Research Scientist: Jian-Guo Zhang, BSc Xinjiang PhD Melb
Research Assistant: Wendy Carter, ARMIT RMIT
Research Assistant: Phillip Morgan, BAppSc FIT
Research Assistant: Priscilla Soo, BSc(Hons) Melb
Postdoctoral Fellow: Stefan Glaser, PhD Germany
Postdoctoral Fellow: Christine White, BSc(Hons) Adelaide PhD Mon