Luís Korrodi-Gregório

• PhD
• PostDoc Position at University of Barcelona

Therapy resistance in human cancers is a major limitation in Clinical Oncology. In this regard, overexpression of anti-apoptotic proteins, such as survivin, has been described in several tumors, contributing to this clinical issue. Survivin has a dual role in key cellular functions, inducing cell cycle progression and inhibiting apoptosis; thus, su...

Protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) regulates several cellular events via interaction with multiple regulatory subunits. The human prostate proteome includes various PP1-interacting proteins; however, a very limited number of interactions is yet characterized and their role in prostate tumorigenesis remains poorly understood. Tctex1 domain-containing prote...

Introduction Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is associated with increased healthcare utilisation and higher costs. The Tackling AKI study was a multi-centre, pragmatic, stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial that demonstrated a reduced hospital length of stay (LoS) following implementation of a multifaceted AKI intervention (e-alerts, care bundle and an...

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide; hence novel treatments for this malignancy are eagerly needed. Since natural-based compounds represent a rich source of novel chemical entities in drug discovery, we have focused our attention on tambjamines, natural compounds isolated from marine invertebrates that have shown div...

Three Pt(II) complexes containing the natural ligands curcumin and caffeine, namely [Pt(curc)(PPh 3) 2 ]Cl (1), [PtCl(curc)(DMSO)] (2) (curc = deprotonated curcumin) and trans-[Pt(caffeine)Cl 2 (DMSO)] (3), were synthesized and fully characterized. The data obtained suggest that, for both 1 and 2, the anion of curcumin is coordinated to the platinu...

The use of metallohelicates as potential antiproliferative agents is mostly exemplified by one sole family of supramolecular compounds that is based on bis-iminopyridine ligands. In the present investigation, two other types of metallocylinders have been selected and their potential DNA-binding and cytotoxic properties have been investigated. Hence...

In the present study, the potential anti-neoplastic properties of a series of ruthenium half-sandwich complexes of formula [Ru(η6-arene)Cl2(PR1R2(1-pyrenyl))] (η6-arene = p-cymene and R1 = R2 = methyl for 1; η6-arene = methylbenzoate and R1 = R2 = methyl for 2; η6-arene = p-cymene and R1 = R2 = phenyl for 3; η6-arene = methylbenzoate and R1 = R2 =...

Survivin is a small protein that belongs to the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family. It is abundantly expressed in tumors compared with adult differentiated tissues, being associated with poor prognosis in many human neoplasms. This apoptotic inhibitor has a relevant role in both the promotion of cancer cell survival and in the inhibition of cell...

In this study we unraveled human spermatozoa signaling pathways and correlated the activity of sperm signaling proteins with clinical data. Thirty seven semen samples were used and basic semen parameters, sperm DNA fragmentation and the expression levels of 75 protein kinases and the phosphorylation/cleavage patterns of 18 signaling proteins were e...

The serine/threonine protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) inhibitors PPP1R2, PPP1R7, and PPP1R11 are evolutionarily ancient and highly conserved proteins. Four PP1 isoforms, PP1α, PP1β, PP1γ1, and PP1γ2, exist; three of them except PP1γ2 are ubiquitous. The fact that PP1γ2 isoform is present only in mammalian testis and sperm led to the notion that isoform‐...

Novel tinidazole (tnz) coordination compounds of different geometries were synthesised, whose respective solid-state packing appears to be driven by inter- and intramolecular lone pair•••π interactions. The copper(II) compounds exhibits interesting redox properties originated from both the tnz and the metal ion. These complexes interact with DNA th...

The development of photoactivatable metal complexes with potential anticancer properties is a topical area of current investigation. Photoactivated chemotherapy using coordination compounds is typically based on photochemical processes occurring at the metal center. In the present study, an innovative approach is applied that takes advantage of the...

The use of the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) is limited by its toxicity in several organs such as testes. So, we analyzed the effect of endurance treadmill exercise training (EX) performed before sub-chronic DOX treatment on sperm count and motility, testes markers of oxidative damage and apoptosis. Tissue profiling of proteins more susce...

Reaction of cis-[PtCl2(DMSO)2] with the ligand 4-methyl-2-N-(2-pyridylmethylene)aminophenol (Hpyrimol, LH) in methanol at room temperature produces the complexes [PtCl2LH] or [PtClL], under acidic or basic conditions, respectively. The two platinum compounds exhibit distinct DNA-interacting properties, [PtCl2LH] showing a higher affinity for the bi...

Lung cancer has become the leading killer cancer worldwide, due to late diagnosis and lack of efficient anticancer drugs. We have recently described novel natural-derived tambjamine analogues that are potent anion transporters capable of disrupting cellular ion balance, inducing acidification of the cytosol and hyperpolarization of cellular plasma...

Introduction: Lung cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death worldwide, with an increasing incidence and a poor prognosis that depends on tumor stage at presentation. Characterization of molecular abnormalities that play a crucial role on lung cancer will allow the development of targeted therapies for this illness. Our aim is to test novel...

Macroautophagy, herein referred to as autophagy, is a biological process activated under diverse cellular stress conditions, such as starvation or oxidative stress. It involves the internalization of cytoplasmic portions, with or without organelles, within double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes. These vesicles finally fuse with lysosomes, f...

Lung cancer is a serious health problem and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The standard use of cell lines as in vitro pre-clinical models to study the molecular mechanisms that drive tumorigenesis and access drug sensitivity/effectiveness is of undisputable importance. Label-free mass spectrometry and bioinformatics were employed to s...

Protein ratios (fold-regulation, A549 vs SW900) of the 496 proteins shared between both lung cancer cell lines. (TIF)

A549 and SW900 proteins obtained by MALDI-TOF/TOF. (XLSX)

A549-specific genes mapped by DAVID and corresponding GOs terms (cellular component, biological process and molecular function) associated considering a p-value of 0.05. (XLSX)

SW900-specific genes mapped by DAVID and corresponding GOs terms (cellular component, biological process and molecular function) associated considering a p-value of 0.05. (XLSX)

A549 context relevant protein-protein interactions (PPIs) with medium-high confidence (score > 0.63) retrieved from HIPPIE database. (XLSX)

Protein-protein interaction network of the adenocarcinoma cell line. The protein-protein interaction network was obtained from HIPPIE and visualized in the Cytoscape software. Edges represent high confidence interactions. Circular nodes denotes proteins obtained from MS, whereas diamond nodes are proteins obtained from HIPPIE database. Node size is...

Protein-protein interaction network of the squamous carcinoma cell line. The protein-protein interaction network was obtained from HIPPIE and visualized in the Cytoscape software. Edges represent high confidence interactions. Circular nodes denotes proteins obtained from MS, whereas diamond nodes are proteins obtained from HIPPIE database. Node siz...

SW900 context relevant protein-protein interactions (PPIs) with medium-high confidence (score > 0.63) retrieved from HIPPIE database. (XLSX)

Current pharmacological treatments for lung cancer show very poor clinical outcomes, therefore, the development of novel anticancer agents with innovative mechanisms of action is urgently needed. Cancer cells have a reversed pH gradient compared to normal cells, which favors cancer progression by promoting proliferation, metabolic adaptation and ev...

A diplatinum(II) complex was prepared from a new 1,2-dithienylethene-based ligand containing N-methylimidazole groups as metal-binding units. Reaction of the ligand 1,2-bis[2-methyl-5-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-3-thienyl]-cyclopentene (L2(H)) with cis-dichlorobis(dimethylsulfoxido)platinum(II) generated the bimetallic complex trans-[Pt2Cl4(DMSO)2(...

Infertility is a clinical disorder affecting approximately 15% of reproductive-aged couples worldwide. Recently, the influence of oxidative stress (OS) in decreased semen quality has been discussed. OS corresponds to an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants defenses, present in the organism. High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage...

At the Portuguese universities, practical classes of life sciences are usually professor-centered 2-hour classes. This approach results in students underprepared for a real work environment in a research/clinical laboratory. To provide students with a real-life laboratory environment, the Non-Stop Lab Week (NSLW) was created in the Molecular Biomed...

Three copper(II) coordination compounds have been prepared from three different 2,2’:6’,2”terpyridine-based ligands, which have been elected to investigate the potential role of supramolecular interactions on the DNA-interacting and cytotoxicity properties of the corresponding metal complexes. Hence, the ligands 4'-((naphthalen-2-yl)methoxy)-2,2':6...

To determine the correlation between semen basic parameters and the expression and activity of signaling proteins. In vitro studies with human spermatozoa. Academic research institute. Thirty-seven men provided semen samples for routine analysis. None. Basic semen parameters tracked included sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), the expression levels of 7...

The photoactivation of potential anticancer metal complexes is a hot topic of current research as it may lead to the development of more selective drugs. Photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) with coordination compounds is usually based on a (photo)chemical reaction taking place at the metal center. Herein, a new strategy is exploited that consists of...

The photoactivation of potential anticancer metal complexes is a hot topic of current research as it may lead to the development of more selective drugs. Photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) with coordination compounds is usually based on a (photo)chemical reaction taking place at the metal center. Herein, a new strategy is exploited that consists of...

Phosphoprotein phosphatase 1 (PPP1) catalytic subunit gamma 2 (PPP1CC2), a PPP1 isoform, is largely restricted to testicular germ cells and spermatozoa. The key to understanding PPP1 regulation in male germ cells lies in the identification and characterisation of its interacting partners. This study was undertaken to determine the expression patter...

The coordinated and reciprocal action of serine/threonine protein kinases and protein phosphatases produces transitory phosphorylation, a fundamental regulatory mechanism for many biological processes. Phosphoprotein phosphatase 1 (PPP1), a major serine/threonine phosphatase, in particular, is ubiquitously distributed and regulates a broad range of...

Lewy bodies (LBs) are synphilin-1 (Sph1)-containing aggregates and histological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease. Therefore, understanding processes which modulate the aggregation of Sph1, or its isoform Sph1A, will contribute to our understanding of LBs formation. Protein phosphorylation promotes aggregation, but protein phosphatases with activity...

Reversible protein phosphorylation is a central regulatory mechanism of cell function. Deregulation of the balanced actions of protein kinases and phosphatases has been frequently associated with several pathological conditions, including cancer. Many studies have already addressed the role of protein kinases misregulation in cancer. However, much...

Protein phosphorylation is a key mechanism by which normal and cancer cells regulate their main transduction pathways. Protein kinases and phosphatases are precisely orchestrated to achieve the (de)phosphorylation of candidate proteins. Indeed, cellular health is dependent on the fine-tune of phosphorylation systems, which when deregulated lead to...

Abstract Studies were designed to identify the TCTEX1D4 interactome in human testis, with the purpose of unraveling putative protein complexes essential to male reproduction and thus novel TCTEX1D4 functions. TCTEX1D4 is a dynein light chain that belongs to the DYNT1/TCTEX1 family. In spermatozoa, it appears to be important to sperm motility, intra...

Pseudogenes are traditionally considered "dead" genes, therefore lacking biological functions. This view has however been challenged during the last decade. This is the case of the Protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 2 (PPP1R2) or inhibitor-2 gene family, for which several incomplete copies exist scattered throughout the genome. In this study,...

T-complex testis expressed protein 1 domain containing 4 (TCTEX1D4) contains the canonical phosphoprotein phosphatase 1 (PPP1) binding motif, composed by the amino acid sequence RVSF. We identified and validated the binding of TCTEX1D4 to PPP1 and demonstrated that indeed this protein is a novel PPP1 interacting protein. Analyses of twenty-one mamm...

Reversible protein phosphorylation is the major mechanisms regulating signal transduction cascades in eukaryotic cells, being catalyzed by kinases and reversed by phosphatases. Deregulation of phosphorylation in a variety of proteins that modulate important signal transduction pathways – e.g. PI3K, TGFβ and apoptotic – have been associated with the...

Abstract Phosphorylation is a major regulatory mechanism in eukaryotic cells performed by the concerted actions of kinases and phosphatases (PPs). Protein phosphorylation has long been relevant to sperm physiology, from acquisition of motility in the epididymis to capacitation in the female reproductive tract. While the precise kinases involved in...

Reversible phosphorylation plays an important role as a mechanism of intracellular control in eukaryotes. PPP1, a major eukaryotic Ser/Thr-protein phosphatase, acquires its specificity by interacting with different protein regulators, also known as PPP1 interacting proteins (PIPs). In the present work we characterized a physiologically relevant PIP...

Background Protein Ser/Thr Phosphatase PPP1CC2 is an alternatively spliced isoform of PPP1C that is highly enriched in testis and selectively expressed in sperm. Addition of the phosphatase inhibitor toxins okadaic acid or calyculin A to caput and caudal sperm triggers and stimulates motility, respectively. Thus, the endogenous mechanisms of phosph...

Reversible phosphorylation plays an important role as a mechanism of intracellular control in eukaryotes. PPP1, a major eukaryotic Ser/Thr-protein phosphatase, acquires its specificity by interacting with different protein regulators, also known as PPP1 interacting proteins (PIPs). In the present work we characterized a physiologically relevant PIP...

In the last decades, molecular biology development was driven medicine, mainly in identification of novel therapeutic and diagnostics targets. In cells, proteins are the main responsible for the functioning of all cellular processes, from DNA synthesis to RNA and protein production, transport of cellular components and structural composition of the...

Posttranslational protein modifications, in particular reversible protein phosphorylation, are important regulatory mechanisms involved in cellular signaling transduction pathways. Thousands of human proteins are phosphorylatable and the tight regulation of phosphorylation states is crucial for cell maintenance and development. Protein phosphorylat...

Infertility is a growing concern in modern society, with 30% of cases being due to male factors, namely reduced sperm concentration, decreased motility and abnormal morphology. Sperm cells are highly compartmentalized, almost devoid of transcription and translation consequently processes such as protein phosphorylation provide a key general mechani...

Protein phosphorylation is a major regulatory mechanism of signal transduction cascades in eukaryotic cells, catalysed by kinases and reversed by protein phosphatases (PPs). Sequencing of entire genomes has revealed that ~3% of all eukaryotic genes encode kinases or PPs. Surprisingly, there appear to be 2-5 times fewer PPs than kinases. Over the pa...