Role of Polo-Like Kinase-1 in Melanocytic Transformation

In this grant, the Liu laboratory will perform the experiments proposed in Aims 2 and 3. Specifically, to establish that Plk1 and B-Raf are two synthetic lethal partners in vitro, the Liu laboratory will determine whether melanoma cells harboring the B-Raf-V600E mutation have higher mitotic indices than cells with wild type B-Raf, analyze whether the B-Raf-V600E mutation enhances sensitivity of cellular response to mitotic stress, and ask whether melanoma cells with the B-Raf-V600E mutation are hypersensitive to inhibition/depletion of Plk1 than cells with wild type B-Raf. With extensive experience with Plk1 in basic cell biology, the Liu laboratory will finish the proposed experiments within four years.