Dr Martina Foglizzo

Martina was awarded a Discovery Fellowship by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to understand the molecular and mechanistic basis of how 55LCC complex assembly directs substrate recruitment and regulates 55LCC enzymatic function. To achieve this, Martina applies a combination of structural and biochemical methods, reinforced with biophysical, computational, and cell-based techniques. This project focuses on the characterisation of the 55LCC ATPase/unfoldase complex, a key macromolecular machine essential for regulating DNA replication. Mutations in 55LCC result in complex instability and loss of function, giving rise to rare neurological and neurodevelopmental syndromes as well as proteostasis-related diseases, cancers, and ribosomopathies. Martina’s multi-disciplinary approach has the potential to provide important insights on a new protein quality control mechanism that is essential for genome stability.