During her PhD, Irene explored how cells use the proteasome, the cellular machinery responsible for breaking down proteins, to regulate crucial immune factors. Using CRISPR/Cas9 genetic screening, she and her co-authors identified several E3 ligases – enzymes that tag specific proteins for degradation – that control the stability of immune modulators such as IRF1, and APOBEC3 enzymes. These proteins play vital roles in antiviral defense and inflammation control but must be precisely regulated to avoid harmful consequences like inflammatory syndromes or DNA damage. “One can think of it as keeping the immune system’s gas and brake in perfect balance”, Irene explains. “Too much or too little of these factors can be equally harmful.” Her findings reveal how proteasomal degradation contributes to maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing pathological consequences.
Born and raised in Vienna, Irene Schwartz studied biotechnology at the BOKU University before joining the Versteeg lab at the Max Perutz Labs in September 2020 for her PhD. She has continued her passion for molecular immunology as a postdoctoral fellow in the Versteeg lab, and will soon embark on the next chapter of her career.