International Protease Network

Hormone-Dependent Cancer Program, Science Research Centre, School of Life Sciences
Queensland University of Technology
Brisbane, Qld 4001
Email: a.herington@qut.edu.au
Tel: +61-7-3864-2554
Fax: +61-7-3864-1534
Homepage:

Research

The focus of our research is in the ADAMs family of metalloproteases, (so called because they possess A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease domain) and their association with the progression of hormone-dependent cancers, in particular prostate cancer. Classically, the ADAMs are characterised as cell surface sheddases, with demonstrated abilities to activate and/or solubilize cell surface growth factors and cytokines. Our current work is directed towards a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of these proteases and investigating the roles that ADAMs may play at both the extracellular and intracellular level. Additional research includes work with the MMPs and the kallikreins in cancer progression.

Collaborations

Prof Rik Thompson (University of Melbourne, Australia)
Dr Elizabeth Williams (University of Melbourne, Australia)
Prof Judith Clements (Queensland University of Technology, Australia)

Publications

McCulloch DR, Harvey M, Herington AC. The expression of the ADAMs proteases in prostate cancer cell lines and their regulation by dihydrotestosterone. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2000 Sep 25;167(1-2):11-21.

Whiteside EJ, Jackson MM, Herington AC, Edwards DR, Harvey MB. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 are key regulators of extracellular matrix degradation by mouse embryos. Biol Reprod. 2001 May;64(5):1331-7.

Whiteside EJ, Kan M, Jackson MM, Thompson JG, McNaughton C, Herington AC, Harvey MB. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) expression and activity during early embryo development in the cow. Anat Embryol (Berl). 2001 Dec;204(6):477-83.

Manzetti S, McCulloch DR, Herington AC, van der Spoel D. Modeling of enzyme-substrate complexes for the metalloproteases MMP-3, ADAM-9 and ADAM-10. J Comput Aided Mol Des. 2003 Sep;17(9):551-65.

McCulloch DR, Akl P, Samaratunga H, Herington AC , Odorico DM. Expression of the Disintegrin Metalloprotease, ADAM-10, in Prostate Cancer and Its Regulation by Dihydrotestosterone, Insulin-Like Growth Factor I, and Epidermal Growth Factor in the Prostate Cancer Cell Model LNCaP. Clin Cancer Res. 2004 Jan;10 (1) :in press.