Fall 2025 Grantee Highlight:
Michael S. Cohen

Michael S. Cohen, PhD

Professor
Department of Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University

Proteins are dynamically regulated by small chemical modifications that act as rapid, reversible signals, directing how cells grow, respond to stress, and defend against disease. In a recent collaborative discovery, the Cohen Lab has identified a new form of post‑translational modification in which two well‑known signals—ADP‑ribose and ubiquitin—are linked at the same site on a protein. This hybrid modification, termed MARUbylation, reveals an additional layer of cellular regulation and expands our understanding of how protein modifications interact.

This project aims to map where MARUbylation occurs across the proteome, identify the enzymes that install and remove this signal, and define the molecular rules that govern its formation. By uncovering how this pathway influences cellular communication, the team’s work seeks to guide future research and advance our understanding of protein signaling networks, with potential impact on diseases driven by dysregulated protein modification, including cancer, inflammation, and neurodegeneration.