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University of Cambridge

The PLK1 and NLRP3 interactome in NLRP3 inflammasome activation

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Excessive activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in sterile inflammation in multiple chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis, gout, type 2 diabetes or Alzheimer’s disease. However, current treatment strategies using generic targeting of IL-1, the end product of multiple inflammasome pathways, can increase the rate of opportunistic infection. Identification of novel players specifically regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome could therefore lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies. Our unpublished work has identified the Polo-like kinase (PLK1) as a potential regulator of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Using two different methods, I showed that PLK1 interacted with NLRP3 and that that interaction was enhanced during NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Moreover, I identified the potential domains responsible for this interaction. Protein-protein interactions regulate protein functionality of both PLK1 and NLRP3. Therefore, I set out to identify the PLK1 and NLRP3 interactome during NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which could indicate the underlying mechanism of how PLK1 regulates NLRP3. Using proximity-dependent biotin identification (BioID), a method based on fusion of a promiscuous biotin ligase to a protein of interest, I identified 553 and 645 proteins as potential new interacting partners of NLRP3 and PLK1 respectively during inflammasome activation. Using this method, I found that the centrosomal protein CEP192 interacted with NLRP3. I furthermore confirmed that CEP192 also interacted with PLK1 during NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Our data not only supports the regulatory role of PLK1 in the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, but also reveals a potential mechanism via interaction of PLK1 with CEP192.

Degree

thesis:*
Name dc:type.qualificationname
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Level dc:type.qualificationlevel
Doctoral
Grantor dc:publisher.institution
University of Cambridge
Year dc:date.issued
2021

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Doreth, Christian
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Li, Xuan

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Language dc:language
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Author Identifier
0000-0002-0754-3011
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/330677

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Cambridge University
Base URL
api.repository.cam.ac.uk/server/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Doreth, Christian. The PLK1 and NLRP3 interactome in NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Doctoral thesis, University of Cambridge, 2021. https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.78122