Ivan Yudushkin

MSc in Biochemistry, 1999, Moscow State University; PhD in Cell Biology and Biophysics, 2006, EMBL-University of Heidelberg;
postdoc in Ron Vale’s lab, UCSF

Ivan Yudushkin is a Senior Lecturer at Max Perutz Labs and Department of Structural and Computational Biology at the University of Vienna. The Yudushkin group uses a combination of biochemical and advanced optical methods, including FRET/FLIM, FCS/FCCS, super-resolution microscopy, opto- and chemical genetics, to understand biochemical architecture of signaling networks. Specifically, the group examines how the intramolecular allosteric and cell-autonomous mechanisms cooperate to control the fidelity of cellular anabolic processes by Akt and mTOR kinases. The lab now examines how cellular LLPS compartments help bypass the allosteric control mechanisms that restrict the activity of the above kinases to cellular membranes. Here, in cooperation with the colleagues from the structural and computational groups, we propose to explore how the mutation of the LLPS-forming protein NPM1 in acute myeloid leukemia activates Akt kinase. Ivan Yudushkin supervised a total of 2 PhD students (1 graduated). Among other recognition, he was awarded the Genentech fellowship of the Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for medical research, USA for his work.