Luke Chamberlain

Professor Luke Chamberlain is a leading researcher at the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, where he investigates the role of protein S-acylation in health and disease. His work bridges fundamental biochemistry with therapeutic discovery, focusing on the zDHHC family of enzymes and their impact on cellular signaling, membrane trafficking, and disease mechanisms.

Education:

• PhD in Role of Cysteine-String Protein in Regulated Exocytosis, University of Liverpool (1998)
• BSc in Microbiology, University of Edinburgh (1994)

His research is primarily focused on protein S-acylation (palmitoylation), a reversible lipid modification that regulates protein localization, stability, and function. He explores how defects in this process contribute to neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and diabetes. His lab employs advanced techniques such as click chemistry, confocal microscopy, proteomics, and behavioral analyses to dissect molecular mechanisms.

The recent publications highlight trends in understanding substrate specificity of zDHHC enzymes, development of inhibitors, and the regulatory role of S-acylation in metabolic and neurological pathways. His work increasingly emphasizes chemical biology approaches to target S-acylation therapeutically.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards explicitly mentioned in the text.

Prof. Chamberlain actively mentors postdoctoral researchers and prospective PhD students, offering support for fellowship applications. He is Principal Investigator on multiple grants, including an integrated analysis of S-acylation dynamics (BBSRC-funded) and a Strathclyde-led network with Thailand. His professional activities include serving as an examiner for PhD theses, chairing international conferences such as the FASEB meeting on Protein Lipidation, and participating in research visits to institutions like Tsinghua and Peking University.

Labs and Facilities: His research group utilizes the Leica SP8 Confocal Microscope facility at the Strathclyde Institute, enabling high-resolution imaging of protein localization and dynamics in live and fixed cells.