August 1, 2024

Summer research projects near completion

It has been a busy summer in the lab. A slower pace of the Saskatchewan Day long weekend gives us an opportunity to recognize the great work of Diya Patel and Nurul Hidaya, the University of Saskatchewan undergraduate students who joined the lab for their summer projects on the metal binding properties of MEMO1. Diya and Nurul, we wish you a strong finish in the lab and a good start of the new school year!

June 15, 2024

Saskatoon Riders take off!

On a beautiful Saturday morning, Oleg attended the  2024 Ride Day to thank all the riders and the Saskatoon Ride for Dad chapter for raising $40,000 for prostate cancer research this year. The Swift Current Chapter raised $30,000. Together, these funds supported Prostate Cancer Research Grants to  Dmitriev and Wu labs at the University of Saskatchewan.

April 19, 2024

Our first MEMO1 paper has been published in eLife!

After many years following the copper trail in the cell, we came to a fork in the road. Well, as Yogi Berra said, if you come to a fork in the road, take it. We started working on MEMO1, a mysterious copper-linked protein that modulates cancer cell motility and metastasis, and found  that it binds not only copper but also iron. This discovery took us in an entirely new direction. Together with Franco Vizeacoumar's group, we started unraveling the complex network of MEMO1 interactions with other iron-related proteins,  to understand its emerging role in regulating iron flow in the cell. The results of this work have been just published in eLife.
 
Congratulations to all the co-authors, first and foremost to Natasha, Eva, Michal and Frederick, who contributed equally to this work! We also thank Martina Ralle (Oregon Health and Science University) and Marco Tonelli (National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison), for generously helping us with iron measurements and protein NMR, respectively. In short, this paper is a culmination of an amazingly effective collaboration of many people and several labs! Stay tuned for more.
  

April 12, 2024

We receive new funding from Ride for Dad!

We have received a new grant from Ride for Dad / Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation to continue our research  on targeting the metastasis modulator protein MEMO1 to treat prostate cancer. This grant comes from the funds raised by the members of the  Saskatoon and Swift Current chapters of Ride for Dad, a nationwide organization of motorcycle riders who raise money to support prostate cancer research. 

The next motorcycle Ride for Dad will take place in Swift Current on June 8th and in Saskatoon on June 15th. Please visit the  Ride for Dad website for more information and consider participating if you own a motorcycle. In keeping with the newly established tradition, Oleg will ride the Corkscrew - Ravine - Stove trails along the South Saskatchewan river in Saskatoon on June 17th to support the cause.

August 1, 2023

Ivy Chung joins the lab

Ivy Yeuk Wah Chung has joined the lab as a research associate. Ivy received her Ph.D. from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, where she was trained in molecular biology and  protein X-ray crystallography. In 2013, Ivy joined Cygler lab at the University of Saskatchewan as a postdoctoral fellow, and then as a research associate, continuing her research in protein crystallography. At the last count, she has 10 PDB structures to her credit.  Since we have shared the lab space for the last ten years, Ivy is no stranger to Dmitriev lab and its people. Welcome to the other side of the tracks, Ivy!

July 26, 2023

We say Goodbye to Anjuman

Anjuman is leaving the lab and moving with her family to British Columbia. Thank you, Anjuman, for helping to restart cell biology work in our lab!

July 3, 2023

Marziyeh Ghanbarian joins the lab

Marziyeh Ghanbarian has joined the lab as a postdoctoral fellow. Marzi received a Ph.D. degree in Molecular Medicine from  Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in Iran, where she studied mechanisms of miRNA-mediated gene regulation in drug-resistant cell lines, focusing on the platinum based anticancer drugs. After finishing her degree, Marzi worked as a research assistant in the Laboratory of System Biology and Bioinformatics in Tehran. In our lab, Marzi will investigate the molecular funcition of the cancer metastasis modulator MEMO1. Welcome to the lab, Marzi!

June 17, 2023

It's the Ride Day!

Oleg attended the sendoff at the Western Development Museum on the Ride Day to thank all the riders and the Saskatoon Ride for Dad chapter for their great work raising funds for prostate cancer research. Thanks for the ride!

June 1, 2023

We receive funding from Ride for Dad!

We have received a new grant from Ride for Dad / Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation to study the possibility of targeting the metastasis modulator protein MEMO1 to treat prostate cancer. This grant comes from the funds raised by the members of the  Saskatoon and Swift Current chapters of Ride for Dad, a nationwide organization of motorcycle riders who raise money to support prostate cancer research. 

The next motorcycle Ride for Dad will take place in Swift Current on June 10th and in Saskatoon on June 17th. Please visit the  Ride for Dad website for more information and consider participating if you own a motorcycle. Oleg can't keep up on his mountain bike, but will ride the Corkscrew - Ravine - Stove trails along the South Saskatchewan river in Saskatoon on June 17th to support the cause.

May 31, 2023

We receive funding from SHRF!

Our team, which includes Franco Vizeacoumar, Andrew Freywald and Sunil Yadav has received an Innovation grant from the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) in partnership with Lung Saskatchewan to study the potential of using the metastasis modulator protein MEMO1 as a biomarker for selective chemotherapy of lung cancer. This new funding supports the ongoing collaboration between Vizeacoumar, Freywald and Dmitriev labs on the role of MEMO1 in cancer, now with the invaluable clinical expertise in lung cancer that Sunil brings to the team. 

May 1, 2023

Kaylen Young joins the lab

Kaylen Young has started her summer project in the lab. She will study the interaction between the metal binding domains of the copper transporter ATP7B and lipid membranes. Kaylen is a fourth year student in the Biomedical Neurosciences program at the University of Saskatchewan. She is supported by the Biomedical Summer Research Project Award  from the College of Medicine.  Welcome to the lab, Kaylen!

September 7, 2022

Rebecca Iyoha joins the lab

Rebecca Iyoha has joined the lab to work on her honors research project (BIOC 489). Rebecca continues the new tradition of undergraduate research projects on the mechanism of copper transfer between the chaperone protein ATOX1 and the active copper transporter ATP7B. Welcome to the lab, Rebecca!

January 6, 2022

Paria Nouri joins the lab

Paria Nouri has joined the lab as a graduate student. Paria received a B.Sc. degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and had worked as a laboratory technologist in Iran, before deciding to continue her education at the U of S. As a part of her Welcome-to-Saskatchewan experience, Paria had to brave a brutal blizzard whipped up by an Alberta Clipper.  Nevertheless, we hope that  she will feel at home in Saskatoon very soon and wish her the best of luck with her project!

January 3, 2022

Anjuman Ara joins the lab

Dr. Anjuman Ara has joined the lab as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Anjuman received her Ph.D. degree from the University of Saskatchewan, in Linda Chelico's lab, and then trained as a postdoctoral fellow in Jim Xiang's lab at the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency.  She will study the mechanism of regulation of the human copper transporter ATP7B.  As a protein science lab, we are very happy to welcome a cell biologist on board!

November 1, 2021

Afzal Javed joins the lab

Dr. Afzal Javed has joined the lab as Research Assistant. Afzal received Ph.D. in molecular microbiology from the School of Science and Technology at Nottingham Trent University in England. He brings to the lab a wealth of technical skills and extensive experience in molecular and cell biology. Welcome on board, Afzal!

September 6, 2021

Sangwani Simwaka joins the lab

Sangwani Simwaka has joined the lab for his honors research project (BMIS 489). Sangwani comes from Malawi.  He is majoring in biochemistry and will study interactions between the copper chaperone ATOX1 and the metal binding domains of the active copper transporter ATP7B. Welcome to the lab, Sangwani!

September 1, 2021

Katherine Mowers joins the lab

Katherine has joined the lab as a graduate student.  She is a Saskatchewan native and a recent graduate of McGill University. For her M.Sc. project, Katherine will investigate the molecular function of a metal binding protein that modulates breast cancer metastasis.

July 22, 2021

We receive CIHR funding!

We have been awarded a  CIHR grant for our project Molecular Mechanism of Copper and Platinum Drug Transport in Human Cells. This grant provides a solid financial foundation for our lab for the next five years.
  
Natasha Dolgova, Eva Uhlemann, Corey Yu, Sergiy Nokhrin, Jaala Patry, this is your success! Your hard work, original ideas and rock solid data are at the heart of this project. Thank you!
  
This is also a fitting start for our new collaboration with Scot Leary. Scot joined Oleg as co-applicant in this competition, bringing with him the much needed expertise in cell biology, and his participation made all the difference between a good proposal and a funded grant. 

May 3, 2021

Ali Abbas joins the lab

Ali Abbas has rejoined the lab for a summer research project on an intriguing protein that modulates breast cancer metastasis. Ali did a very interesting bioinformatics project on the same protein last summer, when CoVID-19 pandemic forced a lab shutdown and we all had to switch to computer research. This summer, the lab is open, and Ali can try his hand in experimental cell biology, and next year the masks in the workplace may become a distant memory, and we'll see full smiles again in the lab!

December 23, 2020

Our Nanobodies paper made it to Metallomics cover

Our recent paper "Nanobodies Against the Metal Binding Domains of ATP7B as Tools to Study Copper Transport in the Cell" is featured on the front cover of Metallomics.
Where Science meets Photoshop: Nanobodies chasing the metal binding domains over Yukon.

December 17, 2020

Jaala Patry defends her M.Sc. thesis

 

 

Congratulations to Jaala on the successful defense of her M.Sc. thesis Dynamics of the Metal-Binding Domains in the Regulation of the Wilson Disease Protein, ATP7B! She has proven that

SAXS + NMR = Inspiration + Insight. 

Best of luck with your next career move, Jaala!

November 18, 2020

Congratulations, Manisha and Yuliang!

Congratulations to Manisha Yadav, Yuliang Wu and all the co-authors on a nice paper on DDX43 helicase, just published in JBC! We can never resist a good looking NMR spectrum and were happy to help.

September 10, 2020

Czarina Vasallaje joins the lab

Czarina Vasallaje has joined the lab for her honors research project. Czarina learnt about protein NMR in our BIOC405 course and will now try her hand at the ultimate jigsaw puzzle game in structural biology making backbone chemical shift assignments of a large and very intriguing protein involved in cancer metastasis. Welcome to the lab, Czarina!

June 22, 2020

Our lab is open!

Along with many other research groups at the U of S, we are back in the lab. Here is to the open road ahead!

May 1, 2020

Ali Abbas and Jessie Heisler join the lab

Ali Abbas and Jessie Heisler have started their summer research projects in our group. Ali and Jessie are supported by the College of Medicine Biomedical Research scholarships. In a first for our group, they will likely complete their projects without ever setting a foot in the wet lab, but we look forward to planning future experiments informed by their research.  

March 25, 2020

CoVID-19 update

Our lab is closed, but research continues from the home office. We are eager to get back to the bench as soon as the situation permits.

March 17, 2020

CoVID-19 update

Our lab remains open and research continues as we adapt and adjust to living and working under pandemic conditions, while taking measures to minimize the risk of  CoVID-19 infection.

March 1, 2020

Happy March 1!

Another winter on the prairie is coming to an end!

December 19, 2019

Akarin Asavajaru Defends his Master's Thesis

Akarin has successfully defended his M.Sc. thesis "Structural characterization of viral glycoproteins GP2a, GP3, and GP4 of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus". Akarin's M.Sc. project was supervised by Volker Gerdts of Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization - International Vaccine Centre (VIDO -Intervac) and co-supervised by Oleg. It was a real pleasure to work with Akarin on this foray into viral proteins, and we are going to miss him in the lab. Congratulations, Akarin!

May 5, 2019

Wilson Disease Translational Meeting

Oleg attended Wilson Disease Association Annual Conference in New York. The meeting brought together basic scientists working on copper metabolism, clinicians who treat and study Wilson disease, representatives of pharmacological companies developing new therapies, and patients looking for better understanding  and new approaches to treating their condition. Translational meeting linking the biology of copper, Wilson disease diagnostics and therapy took place on the first day of the conference. The second day was devoted to the patient-oriented educational and support program. This format was perfect and there was a lot to learn on both days, both about Wilson disease and the amazing resilient people who have to deal with it!

May 1, 2019

Azasma Tanvir joins the lab

Azasma Tanvir has joined the lab to work on a summer research project. She will study the interactions of the copper chaperone Atox1 with lipid membranes. Azasma is supported by the NSERC undergraduate summer research award.

November 28, 2018

Rosie Hernandez receives Louis T. J. Delbaere Memorial Scholarship

Louis Delbaere (1943-2009)
Rosie received  Louis T. J. Delbaere Memorial Scholarship, awarded to the undergraduate student in the Biochemistry program showing the greatest promise. This is quite symbolic, because Louis became our first collaborator at the University of Saskatchewan back in 2005, and a co-author of one the first papers published on the work done entirely at the U of S. Congratulations, Rosie!

October 1, 2018

11th International Copper Research Meeting, September 23-28th, Sorrento, Italy.

Oleg went to the 11th Copper meeting in Sorrento. Grazie mille, David Giedroc, Svetlana Lutsenko and Roman Polischuk for organizing the meeting and putting together an exciting program!

September 1, 2018

Rosario Hernandez Barba joins the lab.

Rosario Hernandez Barba has joined the lab to work on her honors reseach project on the interaction of the copper chaperone Atox1 with cell membranes. Rosie learnt about protein NMR and membrane transport processes in BIOC405, and decided to put this knowlegde to a good use at the lab bench. Welcome to the lab, Rosie!

June 12, 2018

Yunhua Jia finishes her term.

Big thanks to Yun for responding to "All hands on deck!" and helping us with protein purification for the last few months. We wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.

June 9, 2018

We receive a new grant from Telus Ride for Dad - Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation.

This year, the grant is funded by the Swift Current Chapter of Ride for Dad. Thank you Swift Current Riders for your efforts to raise money for prostate cancer research! It was great to visit the beautiful Southwest and meet you all on the Ride Day that sunny Saturday.

Photo credits: Tanner Wallace-Scribner

March 1, 2018

Happy March 1!

Spring is in sight!  First morning ride to work with helmet light off  this year.  Is there a lone wolf somewhere in this picture?

October 16, 2017

Ride for Dad Summit in Whitehorse

Oleg attended Ride for Dad Research Summit in Whitehorse.  Ride for Dad is Canadawide organization of motorcycle riders who raise funds for prostate cancer research.  The event brought together the researchers funded by Ride for Dad and riders from all over the country. The warm hospitality of our Whitehorse hosts, the amazing group of people that came together at this meeting, and the breathtaking beauty of Yukon made it an unforgettable experience. 

In the photo: The researchers and the organization leaders at the President's dinner. Garry Janz who started the Ride almost two decades ago is the third from the left. Since 2000, Ride for Dad donated 25 million dollars to prostate cancer research. Below: Yukon landscapes. I can't imagine that anybody who has visited Yukon once does not dream of coming back. 

September 1, 2017

New lab members

Jaala Patry and Tamanna Anwar have joined the lab. After completing her undergraduate research project in the lab, Jaala decided to continue her studies as a M.Sc. student. Tamanna is a visiting postdoctoral fellow from India, supported by the Shastri Institute Indo-Canadian fellowship. Welcome to the lab, Jaala and Tamanna!

June 18, 2017

We receive a grant from Ride for Dad - Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation.

We have received a new  grant from Telus Ride for Dad and Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation to continue our studies of the role of copper transport proteins in prostate cancer response to platinum based chemotherapy.
 
On the annual Ride day, the skies were stormy, but the spirits were high and the engines roared. Thank you, Saskatchewan motorcycle riders, for your great work raising funds for prostate cancer research!
Photo credits: Mark Villani/CTV Saskatoon
 

April 20, 2017

We receive funding from NSERC.

We have received a five-year Discovery grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to study regulation of human copper transport proteins. Some of the work for this project is conducted at the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance facility at the Saskatchewan Structural Sciences Center shown in the photo.

April 10, 2017

Laura Wu and Mars Zhao join the lab for summer research projects.

Laura Wu and Mars Zhao received Undergraduate Summer Research Awards from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). 

Welcome to the lab, Laura and Mars!

March 1, 2017

Top 10 reasons to work for the University of Saskatchewan

Reason #10: The coolest campus commute this side of Siberia

December 5, 2016

Corey Yu defends his Ph.D. thesis

Corey Yu has succesfully defended his Ph.D. thesis "Dynamics and Interactions of Metal-Binding Domains in the Function of Wilson Disease Protein". Corey started in the lab in 2009 as an undergraduate student and decided to stay  for Master's, which then became a Ph.D. project. Congratulations, Corey, and good luck with your postdoctoral studies at the University of Texas!

December 1, 2016

Today is Colonel Flagg's birthday!

On this day in 1973, Colonel Samuel Flagg was born. Colonel, Sir, it has been an honor and a privilege to serve with you. We will never forget your words of organizational wisdom: 

"Nobody can get the truth out of me because even I don't know what it is. I keep myself in a constant state of utter confusion."

September 21, 2016

Daryna Kulik defends her M.Sc. thesis

Daryna Kulik successfully defended his M.Sc. thesis "Conversion of the ATP synthase subunit c into a hydrophilic pore". Daryna graduated from Minsk State University in the Republic of Belarus, and joined the lab as a graduate student in September 2013. Congratulations, Daryna!

August 27, 2016

Corey and Oleg went to ICMRBS XXVII.

Corey and Oleg presented our work on the nanobodies and dynamics of the metal-binding domains of Wilson disease protein at the 27th International Conference on Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems in Kyoto, Japan (August 21-26). A memorable meeting in a beautiful city!

June 29, 2016

New funding from Telus Ride for Dad and Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation

We have received funding from Telus Ride for Dad and Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation to study the role of copper transport proteins in prostate cancer sensitivity to platinum based chemotherapy. In the photo,  Corey receives the check from Vince Streukens, Saskatoon Ride Captain. This year, Saskatchewan chapter of Ride for Dad foundation raised more than $200,000 for prostate cancer research!

June 27, 2016

Back to school: SAXS+NMR=...

Oleg attended a week-long course on small angle X-ray scattering in biology (BioSAXS) at the Advanced Photon Source  (pictured) at Argonne National Laboratory. A very useful and rather underused method for studies of multidomain proteins and protein complexes! I hope we can do SAXS at  Canadian Light Source some day!

June 24, 2016

Shucks! Now, mind the gap!

June 18, 2016

The lab members join a team of cancer survivors and supporters for a dragon boat race.

Two of our lab members joined "It is always something"  team of cancer survivors and their supporters for a day of dragon boat racing on lake Wingra in Madison, WI. Don't ask how we did, but it was a lot of fun! Amazing organization and a great way to bring together people who beat cancer and those whose lives were touched by its shadow.

April 15, 2016

Dzmitriy Turavets defends his M.Sc. thesis.

Dzmitriy Turavets successfully defended his M.Sc. thesis "Structural and Functional Characterization of the Putative Pineal ATPase PINA". Dzmitriy graduated from Minsk State University in the Republic of Belarus, and joined the lab as a graduate student in September 2013. Congratulations, Dzmitriy!