Dr. Meropi Patrinou-Georgoula, Senior Research Scientist Ms. Christina Theodoropoulou, Technician Ms. Cleopatra Logotheti, Technician Ms. Stavroula Tsouni, Technician
Dr. Michael Leichter, Marie Curie Post-Doctoral Fellow Ms Alexandra Platania, Diploma student of Biology Mr Arsenios Vlasis, Diploma student of Biology Ms Sofia katsibloula, Medical Doctor, external collaborator
Research objectives
The research activities of the program refer to the mechanisms underlying regulation of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, in mammals. The focus has been on the role played by endogenous nuclear macromolecular assemblies containing protein components with RNA and/or DNA binding activity. A specific line of research is directed to the nuclear ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes with their associated group of hnRNP proteins, currently considered as important gene regulators, since in addition to their role in RNA processing are thought to coordinate biological functions operating at almost all levels of mRNA metabolism.
Research is conducted at two inter-connected levels:
I. Understanding basic regulatory processes of mRNA metabolism
II. Unraveling the nature and extent of participation of RNA processing components in
human pathophysiology, in particular with respect to malignant transformation and
autoimmunity.
Specific research activities under way refer to:
I a. Novel macromolecular assemblies involved in regulated gene expression: Structural/functional analysis of endogenous complexes involved in coupling transcription to RNA processing
I b. Molecular characterization of protein and RNA components belonging to nuclear ribonucleoprotein complexes
II a. The role played by members of the hnRNP protein family in the initiation and maintenance of malignant transformation
II b. hnRNP complexes as targets of autoantibodies in rheumatic autoimmune diseases.
Recent and Current Funding
European Union Funding
"Macromolecular assemblies involved in regulated gene expression: structural/functional characteristics, interplay and novel functions" Marie Curie Host Development for Transfer of Knowledge (TOK-Dev. 2004-2008) Coordinated by A. Guialis, RNA Processing Lab. and shared with A.. Pintzas, Signal Mediated Gene Expression Lab and MN Alexis, Molecular Endocrinology Lab. Total budget for IBRB: 852.832 euros; Lab budget: 284.280 euros
"Regulation of transcription and mRNA processing by oncogenic signals" Marie Curie Development Host Grant (2002-2005) Coordinated by A. Pintzas, Signal Mediated Gene Expression Lab and shared with A Guialis, RNA Processing Lab and MN Alexis, Molecular Endocrinology, IBRB, NHRF.
Total budget for IBRB: 228.000 euros; Lab budget: 76.000 euros
National Funding
"Investigating the presence of the transcription factor TAFII68 in novel macromolecular assemblies" Greek-French Bilateral collaboration grant (2001-2003). Dr. A. Guialis, IBRB, NHRF- Dr. L. Tora, CNRS, Strasbourg. Total Lab budget: 10.876 euros
" Development of new molecular, cellular and in vivo model systems to study mechanisms of pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases" National R&D grant (EKBAN-61, 1999-2001) coordinated by Prof. A.G. Tzioufas, Medical School , Univ. of Athens. Total Budget: 727.940 euros; Lab budget: 69.765 euros
"Development of new methods for prognosis and treatment of hormone-dependant neoplasia" National R&D grant (EKBAN-66, 1999-2001) coordinated by Prof . C.E. Sekeris, IBRB, NHRF. Total Budget for IBRB: 289.000 euros; Lab Budget: 44.400 euros.
Recent Publications
Molecular characterization of a murine, major A/B type hnRNP protein: mBx.
A. Plomaritoglou, T. Choli-Papadopoulou and A. Guialis.
Biochem. Biophys. Acta (2000) 1490, 5-62.
The 72/74 kDa polypeptides of the 70-110S large heterogeneous nuclear
ribonucleoprotein complex (LH-nRNP) represent a discrete subset of the hnRNP M
protein family.
P. Kafasla, M. Patrinou-Georgoula and A. Guialis.
Biochem. J. (2000) 363, 793-799.
No evidence of epitope spreading after immunization with the major Sm
epitope P-P-G-M-R-P-P anchored to sequencial oligopeptide carriers
(SOCs).
P.G. Vlachoyiannopoulos, C. Petrovas, A.G. Tzioufas, C. Alexopoulos,
V. Tsikaris, A. Guialis, L. Nakopoulou, C. Sakarellos-Daitsiotis, C.
Sakarelos, P. Davaris and H.M. Moutsopoulos
J. Autoimmun. (2000) 14, 53-61
Association of the 72/74kDa proteins, members of the heterogeneous nuclear
ribonucleoprotein M group, with the pre-mRNA at early stages of spliceosome
assembly.
P. Kafasla, M. Patrinou-Georgoula and A. Guialis.
Biochem. J. (2002) 363, 793-799.
Clinical, immunological, and immunogenetic aspects of autoantibody production
against Ro/SSA, La/SSB and their linear epitopes in primary Sjogren's syndrome
(pSS): a European multicentre study.
A.G. Tzioufas, R. Wassmuth, U.G. Dafni, A. Guialis, H.J. Haga, D.A. Isenberg, R.
Jonsson, J.R. Kalden, H. Kiener, C. Sakarellos, J.S. Smolen, N. Sutcliffe, C. Vitali, E.
Yiannaki and H.M. Moutsopoulos.
Ann. Rheum. Dis. (2002) 61, 398-404.
Nuclear actin is associated with a specific subset of hnRNP A/B - type proteins.
P. Percipalle, A. Jonsson, D. Nashchekin, C. Karlsson, T. Bergman, A.Guialis and B.
Daneholt.
Nucl. Acids Res. (2002) 30, 1725-1734.
Functional Genomics approaches in the study of colorectal cancer.
M. Roberts, G. Vasiliou, A. Guialis, M.N. Alexis, and A. Pintzas
Eur. J. Biochem. (2003) Vol. 270 (sup 1) p. 24
Abstracts in recent scientific meetings
Identification of novel multi-factorial complexes of the specific transcription factor
TAFII68 (TAF15)
A. Guialis, L. Tora, M. Patrinou-Georgoula
Workshop on "Coupling between transcription and RNA processing", Baeza, Spain,
Nov. 8-10, 2004
Early detection of lung cancer: overexpression of hnRNP A2/B1 protein in bronchoscopic
speciments
S. Katsimboula, M. Patrinou-Georgoula, A. Guialis, K. Dimakou and D. Orphanidou
14th European Respiratory Society Annual Congress, Glasgow, U.K. Sept. 4-8, 2004
Research Group
