Introduction
 Ras and Rho signalling pathways are frequently deregulated in human cancer, consequently tumour cells are stimulated to proliferate, resist apoptotic stimuli and metastasise.
Our lab is currently studying how Ras and Rho regulate these cellular responses, either independently or coordinately. Specifically, we are examining the role of Rho effector proteins in proliferation, tumour angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis using in vivo and in vitro methodologies.
We are also studying how Ras signalling pathways regulate proteins that feedback to influence proliferation and motility. Through these studies we aim to identify critical proteins in these signalling pathways that are potential cancer therapeutic targets.
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Lab Report
 Link to Olson Scientific Report 2008 149.33 Kb
Key PublicationsCroft DR, Olson MF (2006). The Rho GTPase effector ROCK regulates cyclin A, cyclin D1 and p27Kip1 levels by distinct mechanisms. Mol Cell Biol. 26, 4612-27.
Croft DR, Coleman ML, Li S, Robertson D, Sullivan T, Stewart CL, Olson MF (2005). Actin-myosin-based contraction is responsible for apoptotic nuclear disintegration. J Cell Biol. 168, 245-55.
Croft DR, Sahai E, Mavria G, Li S, Tsai J, Lee WMF, Marshall CJ, Olson MF (2004). Conditional ROCK activation in vivo induces tumor cell dissemination and angiogenesis. Cancer Res. 64, 8994-9001.
Coleman ML, Marshall CJ, Olson MF (2003). Ras promotes p21Waf1/Cip1 protein stability via a cyclin D1-imposed block in proteasome-mediated degradation. EMBO J. 22, 2036-46.
Coleman M, Sahai EA, Yeo M, Bosch M, Dewar A, Olson MF (2001). Membrane blebbing during apoptosis results from caspase-mediated activation of ROCK I. Nature Cell Biol. 3, 339-45.
Biography
Education and qualifications
1993: PhD, University of Toronto, Supervisor Bernard Schimmer
1985: BSc, Genetics, University of Alberta
Appointments
2008-present: Deputy Postgraduate Convenor, Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow
2007-present: Professor of Molecular Oncology, University of Glasgow
2006-present: Senior Group Leader, Beatson Institute for Cancer Research
2004-2006: Junior Group Leader, Beatson Institute for Cancer Research
2001-2004: Assistant Investigator, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute; Assistant Professor, Dept of Cancer Biology: Assistant Professor, Dept of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
1998-2001: Mr and Mrs John Jaffe Donation University Research Fellow of The Royal Society, Institute of Cancer Research, London
1996-1998: Institute of Cancer Research Fellow with Chris Marshall, Institute of Cancer Research, London
1993-1996: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Postdoctoral Research Fellow with Alan Hall, University College London
Committee membership
2008-present: West of Scotland Comprehensive Cancer Centre Clinical Trials Executive Committee
2008-present: West of Scotland Comprehensive Cancer Centre In-House Trials Advisory Board
2006-present: Cancer Research UK Discovery Committee (Vice Chair)
Recent Publications
Merdek KD, Jaffe AB, Dutt P, Olson MF, Hall A, Fanburg BL, Kayyali US,Toksoz D (2208). Alpha(E)-catenin induces SRF-dependent transcriptional activity through its C-terminal region and is partly RhoA/ROCK-dependent. Biochem Biophys Res Comm. 366, 717-23.
Croft DR, Olson MF (2008). Regulating the conversion between rounded and elongated modes of cancer cell movement. Cancer Cell 14, 349-51.
Olson MF (2008). Applications for ROCK kinase inhibition. Curr Opin Cell Biol. 20, 242-48.
Olson MF, Sahai E. The actin cytoskeleton in cancer cell motility. Clin Exp Metastasis, Published online 23 May 2008; DOI:10.1007/s10585-008-9174-2.
Graham K, Olson MF (2007). The ras signalling pathway as a target in cancer therapy. Recent Results in Cancer Research 172, 125-53.
Olson MF (2007). Mechanisms of tumour cell invasion and metastasis. J Mol Med. 85, 543-4.
Scott RW, Olson MF (2007). LIM kinases: function, regulation and association with human disease. J Mol Med. 85, 555-68.
Coleman ML, Densham RM, Croft DR, Olson MF (2006). Stability of p21Waf1/Cip1 CDK inhibitor protein is responsive to RhoA-mediated regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. Oncogene 25, 2708-16.
Croft DR, Olson MF (2006). The Rho GTPase effector ROCK regulates cyclin A, cyclin D1, and p27Kip1 levels by distinct mechanisms. Mol Cell Biol. 26, 4612-27.
Sahai E, Olson MF (2006). Purification of TAT-C3 exoenzyme. Methods in Enzymology 406, 128-40.
Spence HJ, McGarry L, Chew CS, Carragher NO, Scott-Carragher LA, Yuan Z, Croft DR, Olson MF, Frame M, Ozanne BW (2006). AP-1 differentially expressed proteins Krp1 and fibronectin cooperatively enhance Rho-ROCK-independent mesenchymal invasion by altering the function, localization, and activity of nondifferentially expressed proteins. Mol Cell Biol. 26, 1480-95.
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