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Peter F. Johnson, Ph.D.

Peter F. Johnson, Ph.D.

  • Center for Cancer Research
  • National Cancer Institute
Mouse Cancer Genetics Program

RESEARCH SUMMARY

Dr. Johnson studies transcriptional responses to oncogenic Ras signaling, seeking to understand the pathways that regulate oncogene-induced senescence and how this intrinsic tumor suppression mechanism is bypassed in cancer cells. His laboratory focuses on the transcription factor C/EBPbeta, which is post-translationally activated by Ras signaling and has both pro- and anti-oncogenic activities. His group has identified a novel regulatory mechanism by which the Cebpb mRNA 3' untranslated region suppresses Ras-induced activation of C/EBPbeta and thus facilitates senescence bypass in tumor cells. The 3'UTR effect involves mRNA localization and compartmentalization of Ras effector kinases.

Areas of Expertise

bZIP Transcription Factors
Oncogene-Induced Senescence
Biology of Ras Cancers
Ras Signaling

Publications

Selected Key Publications

A RAS-CaMKKβ-AMPKα2 pathway promotes senescence by licensing post-translational activation of C/EBPβ through a novel 3'UTR mechanism

Basu SK, Gonit M, Salotti J, Chen J, Bhat A, Gorospe M, Viollet B, Claffey KP, Johnson PF.
Oncogene. 37(26): 3528-48, 2018. [ Journal Article ]

Oncogenic RAS-Induced Perinuclear Signaling Complexes Requiring KSR1 Regulate Signal Transmission to Downstream Targets

Basu SK, Lee S, Salotti J, Basu S, Sakchaisri K, Xiao Z, Walia V, Westlake CJ, Morrison DK, Johnson PF.
Cancer Res. 78(4): 891-908, 2018. [ Journal Article ]

An Arf-Egr-C/EBPβ Pathway Linked to Ras-Induced Senescence and Cancer

Salotti, J., Sakchaisri, K., Tourtellotte, W.G., and Johnson, P.F.
Mol. Cell. Biol. 35: 866-883, 2016.
Full-Text Article
[ Journal Article ]

C/EBPg suppresses senescence and inflammatory gene expression by heterodimerizing with C/EBPb.

Huggins, C.J., Malik, R., Lee, S., Salotti, J., Thomas, S., Martin, N. Quiñones, O.A., Alvord, W.G., Olanich, M.E., Keller, J.R., and Johnson, P.F.
Mol. Cell. Biol. 33: 3242-3258, 2013.
Full-Text Article

3′UTR elements inhibit Ras-induced C/EBPβ post-translational activation and senescence in tumour cells

Basu, S.K., Malik, R., Huggins, C.J., Lee, S., Sebastian, T., Sakchaisri, K., Quiñones, O.A., Alvord, W.G., and Johnson, P.F.:
EMBO J. 30: 3714-3728, 2011.
Full-Text Article

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Team

Research Fellow (Visiting)
Srikanta Basu, Ph.D.
Research Biologist
Nancy Martin, B.S.
Animal Technician (Contr)
Karen Lynn Saylor

News

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