Sue-Ann Mok
PhD: 海角社区
Position: Assistant Professor
Location: 339a MSB
Lab: 339 MSB
Office: 780-492-6851
Fax: 780-492-0886
Email: sueann@ualberta.ca
Background
My lab explores two related areas of research in neurodegenerative diseases 1) defining the molecular triggers and modulators of amyloidogenic protein aggregation and 2) mapping the protective functions of the chaperone in neurons. Our studies take advantage of high-throughput biochemical and cellular genetic screens to systematically determine the key factors we can exploit to develop new therapeutic and preventive strategies.
Current Research
To maintain a healthy state, cells must constantly survey and regulate the quality of its proteins in a process called proteostasis. An integral component of the proteostasis system is a large group of proteins classified as molecular chaperones. Molecular chaperones recognize a myriad of misfolded substrates in cells and promote their proper folding or degradation via the formation of highly interconnected and adaptable networks consisting of other chaperones and the many facets of the proteostasis system.
The question of how molecular chaperones can effectively regulate the folding of hundreds of different proteins under a variety of challenging conditions including cellular stresses and disease states is of incredible interest to us. Moreover, we are dedicated to understanding how this robust molecular chaperone network ultimately fails in protein misfolding diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease and Huntington's Disease.
Our research is aimed at exposing the wiring of the molecular chaperone network in cells. We will use a blend of biochemical, cell biology and genetic approaches to profile and manipulate chaperone connections and functions. From this work, we hope to identify both the strengths and weaknesses in the molecular chaperone network and use these insights to better understand the cellular pathways that lead to disease.
Selected Publications
Monyror J, Kadam V, Morales LC, Ordóñez D, Ibanga J, Zaidi AK, McNamara E, Pink D, Stenlund M, Reyes K, Maguire AD, Huang J, Cortez LM, Sim VL, Mok SA, Posse de Chaves E, Sipione S. Sci Adv. 2025 Sep 19;11(38):eady5212. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ady5212. Epub 2025 Sep 17. PMID: 40961208; PMCID: PMC12442881.
Naguib S, Lopez-Lee C, Torres ER, Lee SI, Zhu J, Zhu D, Ye P, Norman K, Zhao M, Wong MY, Ambaw YA, Muñoz-Castañeda R, Wang W, Patel T, Bhagwat M, Norinsky R, Mok SA, Walther TC, Farese RV Jr, Luo W, Sinha SC, Wu Z, Fan L, Gong S, Gan L. Immunity. 2025 Aug 12;58(8):1931-1947.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2025.05.023. Epub 2025 Jun 23. PMID: 40555238; PMCID: PMC12406129.
Paul PS, Rathnam M, Khalili A, Cortez LM, Srinivasan M, Planel E, Cho JY, Wille H, Sim VL, Mok SA, Kar S. Int J Nanomedicine. 2025 Feb 14;20:1999-2019. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S494104. PMID: 39968061; PMCID: PMC11834738.
Sun KT, Mok SA. Neurotherapeutics. 2025 Apr;22(3):e00512. doi: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00512. Epub 2025 Jan 3. PMID: 39755501; PMCID: PMC12047394.
Carling GK, Fan L, Foxe NR, Norman K, Wong MY, Zhu D, Corona C, Razzoli A, Yu F, Yarahmady A, Ye P, Chen H, Huang Y, Amin S, Sereda R, Lopez-Lee C, Zacharioudakis E, Chen X, Xu J, Cheng F, Gavathiotis E, Cuervo AM, Holtzman DM, Mok SA, Sinha SC, Sidoli S, Ratan RR, Luo W, Gong S, Gan L. Neuron. 2024 Dec 4;112(23):3877-3896.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.09.006. Epub 2024 Sep 30. PMID: 39353433; PMCID: PMC11624100.
Naguib S, Lopez-Lee C, Torres ER, Lee SI, Zhu J, Zhu D, Ye P, Norman K, Zhao M, Wong MY, Ambaw YA, Castaneda R, Wang W, Patel T, Bhagwat M, Norinsky R, Mok SA, Walther TC, Farese RV, Luo W, Sinha S, Wu Z, Fan L, Gong S, Gan L. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Jan 12:2024.04.25.591140. doi: 10.1101/2024.04.25.591140. Update in: Immunity. 2025 Aug 12;58(8):1931-1947.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2025.05.023. PMID: 38712164; PMCID: PMC11071490.