John Cannon, PhD

Photo of John Cannon, PhD

Molecular Microbiology and Immunology

Associate Professor
Director and Chair Genetics Area Program

573-882-2780

Profile

Protein phosphorylation is a well-studied post-translational modification that regulates many aspects of protein function. Dr. Cannon uses a combination of powerful yeast molecular genetic techniques and computer simulations to decipher protein phosphorylation regulation from the pathway to atomic level descriptions. Dr. Cannon uses classical yeast genetics to identify protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) and a critical PP1 regulator, I2, based on their control of glycogen metabolism. Further biochemical analysis showed that I2 modulates PP1 function in yeast like all eukaryotic cells by its phosphorylation. I2 phosphorylation activates the PP1-I2 protein phosphatase activity without dissociation. Computer simulations of PP1-I2 molecular dynamics provide atomic level data about how phosphorylation in the unstructured I2 communicates with the I2 region near PP1 active site. This analysis has uncovered a novel method of phosphorylation control that does not exploit the phosphate charge.

Academic Information

Associate Professor
Director and Chair Genetics Area Program

Office

M602 Medical Sciences Bldg.
Columbia, MO 65212
United States

P. 573-882-2780

Research Interests

  • Genetics of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • Role of protein phosphatase in cell cycle regulation
  • Regulation by protein phosphorylation

Areas of Expertise

  • Cancer Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics
  • Signal Transduction
  • Biophysics of Protein Molecular dynamics

Education & Training

Degrees

1987, Post-doc, Biology, University of Pennsylvania
1983, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison
1978, BS, Biochemistry, University of Illinois-Urbana

Publications