Eric Sebastian Fischer is a Professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology. His research combines structural biology, cell biology, and biochemical reconstitutions to address the molecular workings of multi-protein ubiquitin ligase complexes. He is particularly interested in how protein complexes and pathways contribute to the control of gene expression and their associations with human diseases, specifically cancer. His work focuses on the Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS), which is involved in virtually every cellular process and is implicated in several human pathologies. The UPS operates through a three-enzyme cascade (E1, E2, E3), where ubiquitin is covalently attached to substrate proteins, serving various functions based on the type and length of the ubiquitin chain. With over 600 E3 ligases in the human genome, understanding their specificity and regulation remains a challenge as many of the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of ubiquitin ligases are not fully understood. Fischer aims to leverage this molecular understanding to propose and test new avenues for therapeutic intervention, notably through small molecules targeting the UPS as anti-cancer therapeutics, including thalidomide derivatives. He utilizes an extensive toolset from structural biology, proteomics, and cell biology to elucidate the precise activities and modes of action of these complexes.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute • Boston, MA
Leading research on the molecular workings of multi-protein ubiquitin ligase complexes.