Northwestern University · BiochemistryNucleotide Metabolism and Cell Growth Lab
Issam Ben-Sahra · Evanston, Illinois
Research Focus
Dr. Issam Ben-Sahra's lab at Northwestern University focuses on understanding how cells grow and develop by studying the complex interactions between nutrient signaling and nucleotide metabolism. They investigate the molecular mechanisms that link signaling pathways to nucleotide production, which are critical for various cell functions like growth and energy production. Their recent work has reshaped our understanding of how nucleotides influence cellular metabolism and has implications for developing new therapeutic strategies.
nucleotide metabolismcell growthsignaling pathwaysmetabolic regulationbioenergeticshuman diseasepurine nucleotidespyrimidine nucleotidesmTORC1 signalingmetabolic pathways
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how cells sense and respond to nutrient availability.
AIM 02Uncover the connections between nucleotide synthesis pathways and metabolic functions.
AIM 03Elucidate the role of mTORC1 signaling in nucleotide metabolism.
AIM 04Determine the molecular mechanisms of nucleotide sensing in human cells.
AIM 05Explore innovative strategies for targeting metabolic pathways in disease.
Skills the Lab Values
cell cultureWestern blotRNA sequencingmetabolomicsgenetic engineeringmolecular cloningbiochemical assaysCRISPRmass spectrometrymicroscopy
Output against the department
Publications151bottom 42% of dept.233rd of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations8.1kbottom 44% of dept.226th of 402
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.