A5035825838- Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
- Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ
- Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
- Cellular transport and secretion
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Genetic and Kidney Cyst Diseases
- DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- DNA Repair Mechanisms
- interferon and immune responses
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Toxoplasma gondii Research Studies
Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência
2010-2023
University of Lisbon
2012-2021
Mitotic chromosome assembly remains a big mystery in biology. Condensin complexes are pivotal for architecture yet how they shape mitotic chromatin unknown. Using acute inactivation approaches and live-cell imaging Drosophila embryos, we dissect the role of condensin I maintenance structure with unprecedented temporal resolution. Removal from pre-established chromosomes results rapid disassembly centromeric regions while most mass undergoes hyper-compaction. This is accompanied by drastic...
Budding uninhibited by benzimidazoles (BUB1) contributes to multiple mitotic processes. Here, we describe the first two patients with biallelic BUB1 germline mutations, who both display microcephaly, intellectual disability, and several patient-specific features. The identified mutations cause variable degrees of reduced total protein level kinase activity, leading distinct defects. Both patients’ cells show prolonged mitosis duration, chromosome segregation errors, an overall functional...
Mob1 is a component of both the mitotic exit network and Hippo pathway, being required for cytokinesis, control cell proliferation apoptosis. Cell division accuracy crucial in maintaining ploidy genomic stability relies on correct establishment axis, which under cell's environment its intrinsic polarity. The ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila possesses permanent anterior–posterior left–right asymmetry divides symmetrically. These unique features prompted us to investigate role Mob1....
Live imaging of cells carrying rearranged chromosomes shows that misplaced heterochromatin is sufficient to induce ectopic cohesion and chromosome stretching during mitosis, may compromise genetic stability.
Background The eukaryotic cytosolic chaperonin CCT is a hetero-oligomeric complex formed by two rings connected back-to-back, each composed of eight distinct subunits (CCTα to CCTζ). mediates the folding, wide range newly synthesised proteins including tubulin (α, β and γ) actin, as quantitatively major substrates. Methodology/Principal Findings We disrupted genes encoding CCTα CCTδ in ciliate Tetrahymena. Cells lacking zygotic expression either or showed loss cell body microtubules, failed...
Background Recently, long noncoding RNAs have emerged as pivotal molecules for the regulation of coding genes' expression. These might result from antisense transcription functional genes originating natural transcripts (NATs) or transcriptional active pseudogenes. TBCA interacts with β-tubulin and is involved in folding dimerization new tubulin heterodimers, building blocks microtubules. Methodology/Principal Findings We found that mouse genome contains two structurally distinct Tbca...
Sister chromatid cohesion mediated by cohesin is essential for mitotic fidelity. It counteracts spindle forces to prevent premature individualization and random genome segregation. However, it unclear what effects a partial decline of may have on chromosome organization. In this study, we provide quantitative analysis decay inducing acute removal defined amounts from metaphase-arrested chromosomes. We demonstrate that sister very resistant loss as disjunction only observed when chromosomes...
Studying aneuploidy during organism development has strong limitations because chronic mitotic perturbations used to generate usually result in lethality. We developed a genetic tool induce an acute and time-controlled manner Drosophila development. This is achieved by reversible depletion of cohesin, key molecule controlling fidelity. Larvae challenged with hatch into adults severe motor defects shortening their life span. Neural stem cells, despite being aneuploid, display delayed stress...
Membrane organelle function, localization, and proper partitioning upon cell division depend on interactions with the cytoskeleton. Whether membrane organelles also impact function of cytoskeletal elements remains less clear. Here, we show that acute disruption ER around spindle poles affects mitotic size in Drosophila syncytial embryos. Acute was achieved through inhibition fusion by dominant-negative cytoplasmic domain atlastin. We reveal when centrosome-proximal membranes are disrupted,...
Centrosomes and cilia are critical eukaryotic organelles which have been in the spotlight recent years given their implication a myriad of cellular developmental processes. Despite recognized importance intense study, there still many open questions about biogenesis function. In present article, we review existing data concerning members tubulin folding pathway related proteins, identified at centrosomes were shown to unexpected roles these structures.
Abstract Mitotic chromatin is largely assumed incompatible with transcription due to changes in the machinery and chromosome architecture. However, mechanisms of mitotic transcriptional inactivation their interplay assembly remain unknown . By monitoring ongoing Drosophila early embryos, we reveal that eviction nascent mRNAs from occurs after substantial compaction not promoted by condensin I. Instead, show timely removal transcripts driven SNF2 helicase‐like protein Lodestar (Lds),...
Monopolar spindle One Binder1 (MOB1) proteins are conserved components of the tumor-suppressing Hippo pathway, regulating cellular processes such as cytokinesis. Apicomplexan parasites present a life cycle that relies on parasites' ability to differentiate between stages and regulate their proliferation; thus, signaling pathways could play an important role in regulation apicomplexan cycle. Here, we report identification one MOB1 protein Toxoplasma gondii. To characterize function MOB1,...
Abstract Membrane organelle function, localization, and proper partitioning upon cell division depend on interactions with the cytoskeleton. Whether, reciprocally, membrane organelles also impact function of cytoskeletal elements remains less clear. Here, we show that acute disruption Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) around spindle poles affects mitotic size in Drosophila syncytial embryos. Acute ER was achieved through inhibition fusion by dominant-negative cytoplasmic domain Atlastin. We reveal...
Abstract Reductional nuclear division in meiosis is essential for diploid life. A fundamental event chromatin condensation, through mechanisms not yet fully understood. Current data suggest that Condensins are key players building and sustaining mitotic meiotic chromosome structure. In Drosophila , Condensin II appears to be dispensable faithful mitosis somatic tissues the germline. Previous work has demonstrated male meiosis, required segregation of homologous chromosomes into distinct...
A bstract Mitotic chromatin is largely assumed incompatible with transcription due to changes in the machinery and chromosome architecture. However, mechanisms of mitotic transcriptional inactivation their interplay assembly remain unknown. By monitoring ongoing Drosophila early embryos, we reveal that eviction nascent mRNAs from occurs after substantial compaction not promoted by condensin I. Instead, show timely removal transcripts driven SNF2 helicase-like protein Lodestar (Lds),...