In her research, Judith Raaijmakers has demonstrated that when Rap1is activated in cells, that these cells then no longer react to those signals that normally prompt cell migration. This could mean that activating Rap1 in tumor cells may impede the formation of metastases.
Rap1 is an important link protein that is involved in the adhesion of cells to one another, and in the adhesion of cells to their base (cell adhesion). Amongst other things, the regulation of cell adhesion is important in impeding movement of cells (cell migration). Cell migration is necessary for important processes involved in wound healing, and in the mechanism of the immune system. However, some disease processes such as the spreading of tumor cells are also dependent on cell migration.
Judith Raaijmakers will receive her PhD from Utrecht University on 26 May.