Dr Natalie Foot

My primary field of expertise is in cell biology and protein trafficking, specifically in the mechanisms of non-canonical ubiquitin signalling. Ubiquitination is a common type of protein modification involved in the regulation of protein stability, degradation and trafficking. My research focussed on studying the physiological and pathological functions of a group of ubiquitin-protein ligation enzymes (the Nedd4 family of ubiquitin ligases) using several experimental strategies, including physiology, histology, electron microscopy, cell isolation and culture and molecular biology, to study these processes. We established the role of adaptor proteins in regulating Nedd4-mediated ubiquitination of non-classical target proteins, and that different families of adaptor proteins are required to target these substrates to distinct subcellular compartments.

Since moving to the University of Adelaide in 2021, I have been investigating novel interacting proteins of the Progesterone Receptor in the regulation of ovulation, with the ultimate goal being the discovery of novel non-hormone mediated contraceptives for women.