Peter Kaiser

Peter Kaiser, PhD is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Biological Chemistry at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. His research focuses on mechanisms regulating chromatin structure and chromosome segregation, particularly the role of the histone H3 variant CENP-A in maintaining genomic stability. His work integrates molecular genetics, cell biology, and proteomics to understand how misregulation of centromeric proteins contributes to cancer progression.

Recent studies highlight his investigation of SCF ubiquitin ligases (SCF-Met30 and SCF-Cdc4) in controlling CENP-A levels and preventing its ectopic localization. These findings link proteolytic pathways to chromosomal instability, offering insights into cancer biology. His lab explores stress-induced disassembly of SCF complexes and the interplay between histone modification and protein degradation.

Key research themes include: 1) Molecular mechanisms of CENP-A regulation via ubiquitination, 2) SCF ligase dynamics under stress conditions, 3) Chromatin architecture defects in tumorigenesis. His collaborative work bridges basic science with clinical implications in cancer treatment strategies targeting proteostasis networks.