Oncology
Oncology and Molecular Pathology
Matilde E. Lleonart Pajarín
Researchers in training
Andrea Feliciano Aguirre, Laura Franco Valles, Ariadna Sabaté Castellnou
SUMMARY
In the last decade, an increasing number of studies have associated ribosomal proteins (RPs) with extraribosomal functions related to proliferation. Importantly, the expression of RPs appears to be deregulated in several human disorders due, at least in part, to genetic mutations. We explored the roles of the most frequently mutated oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in human cancer that modulate ribosome biogenesis, including their interaction with RPs. Importantly, RPs are pivotal to development and tissue homeostasis. RP Large P1 (Rplp1) overexpression is associated with tumorigenesis. However, the physiological function of Rplp1 in mammalian development remains unknown. We disrupted Rplp1 in the mouse germline and central nervous system and we demonstrated that the translation “fine-tuning” exerted by Rplp1 is essential for embryonic and brain development and for proper cell proliferation.
PUBLICATIONS
- T Mikawa, K Okamoto, ME LLeonart, A Takaori-Kondo, M Yokode, N Inagaki, and H Kondoh. Posttranscriptional Regulation of Glycolytic enzyme Phosphoglycerate Mutase. Cell Signaling and Translational Investigation, 2014.
- Perucho L., Artero-Castro A, Guerrero S, Ramón y Cajal S, Wang ZQ*, LLeonart ME*. Essential role of Rplp1 in mouse development and proliferation PLoS One. 2014 Jun 24;9(6):e99956. doi: 10.1371/journal. pone.0099956. eCollection 2014. IF= 3,920.
- de las Heras-Rubio A, Perucho L, Paciucci R, Vilardell J, LLeonart M.E. Ribosomal proteins as novel players in tumorigenesis. Cancer & Metastasis Reviews 2014 Mar;33(1):115-41. IF= 7,787. 2013
- Kondoh H, T Maruyama T, Nakashima Y, LLeonart M.E., Yokode M, Beach DH. Senescence-inducing stress promotes proteolysis of phosphoglycerate mutase via ubiquitin ligase Mdm2. The Journal of Cell Biology 2014 Mar 3;204(5):729-45. IF= 10,822.
- Simonetti S, Serrano C, Hernández-Losa J, Bagué S, Orellana R, Valverde C, Lleonart ME, Aizpurua M, Carles J, Ramón y Cajal S, Romagosa C. Schwannomas, benign tumors with a senescent phenotype.Histol Histopathol. 2014 Jun;29(6):721-30. IF= 2,281.
MAIN RESEARCH PROJECTS
View- Identification of new prognostic and diagnostic factors based cancer microRNAs and their target proteins that are associated with more aggressive tumors. Ref. PI12/01104 (2013-2015).
- MicroRNAs resposible for lung tumorigenesis. Fundación BBVA. Ref. 065 (2010-2014).