Dr Federico Rojas
Project types: Wet
Our laboratory investigates how post-translational protein modifications regulate the life cycle of Trypanosoma brucei, the parasite causing African sleeping sickness. We identified key signalling pathways that induce parasite cell differentiation, published in our 2019 Cell paper, and now focus on how ubiquitination and ubiquitin-like modifiers (NEDD8, UFM1) trigger this developmental program. We study Cullin ligases and their regulation, as well as novel non-Cullin substrates whose roles are poorly understood. Using genetic tools, proteomics, and biochemical assays, we map enzyme networks and define how these modifications shape parasite biology. Students can join projects in molecular parasitology, protein biochemistry, and cell biology.