ISOM LAB
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Frost Institute for Data Science and Computing
Frost Institute for Chemistry and Molecular Sciences
Welcome to the Isom Lab. With support from the National Institutes of Health, the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the critical philanthropic support of the Pap Corps Champions for Cancer Research, we are advancing fundamental science and training the next generation of investigators. Our research explores how cells sense their environment, cooperate and communicate with one another, and adapt to stress. We focus on three main areas: how cells detect and respond to acidity through specialized receptors, how little-known "dark" proteins may influence cancer and other diseases, and how cells exchange materials to support survival and growth. Our work is grounded in basic research, using advanced computational tools, experimental techniques, and a variety of model systems, including cancer cells, yeast, and worms. While our primary goal is to advance fundamental understanding of cell biology, we aim to uncover insights that can ultimately inform new therapeutic strategies.
What we study
How Cells Sense and Respond to Acidity
Our lab studies how cells detect and respond to changes in acidity, which is important in many parts of the body, especially in inflamed tissues, tumors, and internal compartments like endosomes. We focus on a group of proteins called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which help cells receive signals from their environment. We have discovered that many of these receptors only function properly at certain pH levels, meaning they are controlled by acidity. We also explore how cells adjust to acidic conditions over time, which is essential for their survival in challenging environments like tumors.
Uncovering the Hidden World of Dark Proteins
A large portion of human proteins, about 30 percent, remains poorly understood. These are known as the dark proteome because we know so little about their structure or function. Our lab is working to shed light on these proteins, especially those that may play hidden roles in cancer. Some of the most elusive are called superdark proteins. They have similar shapes to known proteins but very different sequences, making them hard to detect with traditional tools. Thanks to new AI-powered technologies, we can now begin to study these proteins and learn how they might affect health and disease.
How Cells Connect, Cooperate, and Share Materials
We are also exploring how cells physically cooperate and connect to share materials with one another. We recently identified a group of proteins that help form cellular bridges and support the transfer of biological cargo, such as vesicles and even organelles, between cells. These proteins are more active in some cancers, suggesting that tumors might use them to support growth or resist stress. This discovery is opening up new directions in our research and helping us better understand how cells communicate in both healthy and diseased tissues.
How we study cells and proteins
Computational Tools
We use computer-based tools to help us understand how proteins work and how they might interact with potential drugs. This includes using artificial intelligence to predict protein shapes, simulating how molecules might bind to them, and analyzing images of living cells to track how they behave over time. These approaches help us uncover hidden patterns and make better predictions about how cells function.
Lab Experiments
In the lab, we combine techniques from pharmacology, biology, and physics to study how cells send and receive signals. We use synthetic biology to reprogram cells and run genetic screens, powerful microscopes to watch proteins and structures inside cells, and mass spectrometry to measure the molecules cells produce. We're also beginning to use cryo-electron microscopy, a cutting-edge method for capturing detailed images of protein structures at very high resolution.
Model Systems
To test our ideas, we study a variety of model systems. These include cancer cells grown from patient tumors, commonly used lab cell lines, and simpler organisms like yeast and the microscopic worm C. elegans. Each model helps us explore different aspects of biology and understand how findings might translate to human health and disease.