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Michael Wright, PhD

Associate Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

Introduction

My laboratory utilizes quantitative mass spectrometry to study signal transduction pathways in normal and diseased cells. We are studying how perturbations in androgen receptor signaling impacts disease progression in human prostate cancer. Our long-term goals are to build quantitative models of androgen-regulated signaling pathways in prostate cancer. We will use these models to understand the evolution and progression of hormone-refractory prostate cancers. We anticipate our findings will define new biomarkers of diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic value to patients afflicted by life-threatening hormone-refractory prostate cancers.

Current Positions

  • Associate Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

Education

  • BS in Biology, Minor: Chemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
  • Fellow, Howard Hughes
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Washington
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, United Negro College
  • Postdoctoral Fellow in Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Institutes for Systems Biology, Seatlle, Washington, United States

Graduate Program Affiliations

Research Interests

  • Functional analyses of androgen-sensitive post-translationally modified networks involved in AR-mediated transcription
  • Studying Androgen-related Disease Signaling Pathways using Directed and Targeted Proteomic Workflows
  • Functional analyses of the AR-interacting protein complexes
  • Protein Biomarkers: Validation of Prognostic Biomarkers in Human Prostate Cancer
  • Functional analyses of androgen-sensitive coregulators of AR-mediated transcription
  • Androgen Signaling Networks in Human Prostate Cancer
  • Subcellular mapping of androgen-sensitive protein complexes involved in AR-mediated transcription

Selected Publications

  • Hsiao JJ, Smits MM, Ng BH, Lee J, Wright ME. Discovery proteomics defines androgen-regulated glycoprotein networks in prostate cancer cells, as well as putative biomarkers of prostatic diseases. Sci Rep. 2021 Nov 15;11(1):22208. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-01554-2. PMID: 34782677; PMCID: PMC8592995.
  • MacDonald C, Winistorfer S, Pope RM, Wright ME, Piper RC. Enzyme reversal to explore the function of yeast E3 ubiquitin-ligases. Traffic. 2017 Jul;18(7):465-484. doi: 10.1111/tra.12485. Epub 2017 Jun 1. PMID: 28382714; PMCID: PMC5503471.
  • Wakle-Prabagaran M, Lorca RA, Ma X, Stamnes SJ, Amazu C, Hsiao JJ, Karch CM, Hyrc KL, Wright ME, England SK. BKCa channel regulates calcium oscillations induced by alpha-2-macroglobulin in human myometrial smooth muscle cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016 Apr 19;113(16):E2335-44. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1516863113. Epub 2016 Apr 4. PMID: 27044074; PMCID: PMC4843459.
  • Evans TI, Joo NS, Keiser NW, Yan Z, Tyler SR, Xie W, Zhang Y, Hsiao JJ, Cho HJ, Wright ME, Wine JJ, Engelhardt JF. Glandular Proteome Identifies Antiprotease Cystatin C as a Critical Modulator of Airway Hydration and Clearance. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2016 Apr;54(4):469-81. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2015-0090OC. PMID: 26334941; PMCID: PMC4821051.
  • Inamori, K. I., Beedle, A. M., de Bernabé, D. B., Wright, M. E. & Campbell, K. P. (2016). LARGE2-dependent glycosylation confers laminin-binding ability on proteoglycans. Glycobiology 26 (12) 1284-1296. DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cww075. PMID: 27496765. PMCID: PMC5137251.
  • Hsiao, J. J., Smits, M. M., Ng, B. H., Lee, J. & Wright, M. E. (2016). Discovery Proteomics Identifies a Molecular Link between the Coatomer Protein Complex I and Androgen Receptor-dependent Transcription. Journal of Biological Chemistry 291 (36) 18818-18842. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.732313.
  • Turk, R., Hsiao, J. J., Smits, M. M., Ng, B. H., Pospisil, T. C., Jones, K. S., Campbell, K. P. & Wright, M. E. (2016). Molecular Signatures of Membrane Protein Complexes Underlying Muscular Dystrophy. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 15 (6) 2169-2185. DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m116.059188.
  • Wright, M. E. & Aebersold, R. (2003). Differential Expression Proteomic Analysis Using Isotope Coded Affinity Tags. In Proteomic and Genomic Analysis of Cardiovascular Disease. pp. 213–233. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.
  • Wright, M. E. (2000). Development, characterization, and use of a novel yeast expression system to identify inhibitors of the caspase-3 cell death protease. United States – Washington: University of Washington.