Elana Ehrlich, Ph.D.

Research

Critical cellular processes are controlled through regulated degradation of proteins via the ubiquitin proteasome system. The E3 ubiquitin ligase is the final enzyme in the ubiquitination reaction that transfers ubiquitin molecules to the protein substrate targeted for degradation. My lab has two ongoing research projects, both related to ubiquitin:

1. The ubiquitin proteasome system is frequently co-opted by viruses to target either cellular or viral proteins for proteasomal degradation. The genome of Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) encodes a number of proteins that act directly as ubiquitin ligases, act as a subunit of a ubiquitin ligase, enhance the stability of a cellular ubiquitin ligase or in some way affect the activity of a ubiquitin ligase. RTA is the key activator of the switch from latent to lytic replication. In addition to activating lytic gene expression, RTA has also been assigned ubiquitin ligase activity and has was reported to stabilize the cellular E3, RAUL. We are working to identify different protein substrates of the RTA ubiquitin ligase as well as cellular ubiquitin ligases that are recruited or stabilized by RTA.
2. Cul5 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that is frequently hijacked by viruses. Cul5 has been co-opted by HIV, Adenovirus, KSHV, and HPV. We have previously reported a cellular function of Cul5 in regulation of Hsp90 client proteins. Hsp90 clients are frequently dysregulated in cancer; in fact Hsp90 is required to maintain the oncogenic state of multiple types of cancer cells. We are interested in exploring the role of Cul5 expression in cancer diagnosis, prognosis and sensitivity to chemotherapy.

My lab is currently recruiting graduate students. Applications from students from groups traditionally underrepresented in science strongly encouraged.

Publications

Amerria Causey**, Matthew Constantine**, Jessica Oswald**, Anna Dellomo, Bronwyn Masters**, Esosa Omorogbe**, Arie Admon, Alfredo Garzino-Demo, Elana S. Ehrlich. Analysis of the ubiquitin-modified proteome identifies novel host factors in Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus lytic reactivation. J Virol 2025. 99:e01224-24.
 
Kevin Herold, Ayana T Ruffin, Ashley E Mitchell, Jennifer Chmura, Anna Dellomo, Elana S. Ehrlich. Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus viral FLICE inhibitory protein modulates A20 deubiquitinase activity. Access Microbiology. 2024 March 12. 
 
Jessica Oswald**, Mathew Constantine**, Adedolapo Adegbuyi**, Esosa Omorogbe**, Anna Dellomo, Elana S. Ehrlich.E3 Ubiquitin Ligases in Gammaherpesviruses and HIV: A Review of Virus Adaptation and Exploitation. Viruses 2023, 15, 1935. 
 
Sarah Talamantez-Lyburn**, Pierce Brown*, Nicole Hondrogiannis*, Janaysha Ratliff**, Sarah L. Wicks*, Ninna Nana*, Zheng Zheng, Zeev Rosenzweig, Ellen Hondrogiannis, Mary Sajini Devadas, and Elana S. Ehrlich, Gold nanoparticles loaded with Cullin-5 DNA increase sensitivity to 17-AAG in Cullin-5 Deficient Breast Cancer Cells. Int J Pharm. 2019 Jun 10;564:281-292. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.04.022. Epub 2019 Apr 16. PMID: 30999048
 
Jennifer Chmura**, Kevin Herold**, Ayana Ruffin**, Trudymae Atuobi**, Ashley Mitchell**, and Elana Ehrlich. The Itch ubiquitin ligase is required for KSHV RTA induced vFLIP degradation. Virology. 2017 Jan 15;501:119-126. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.11.016. PMID: 27912080

 (*graduate student, **undergraduate student)

Here you will find a full list of my most recent publications. 

Courses Taught

• BIOL 412
• BIOL 428
• BIOL 602
• BIOL 797 Graduate Seminar