Sphingolipid metabolism and cell cycle
We are studying the reciprocal regulation of cell cycle and sphingolipid metabolism
However, how cells control sphingolipid metabolism during their division is not well
understood. To answer this question, we use S. cerevisiae as a model.
Studying lipid metabolism
Yarrowia lipolytica is a dimorphic fungus that grows in the form of yeast and as filaments. It has called the attention of scientists for its growth in harsh conditions. It can be genetically modified to produce more lipids as shown in the figure where lipid droplets were stained with Bodipy and yeast were observed by fluorescence microscopy. The main challenge is to create mutants in new environmental isolates!
LABORATORY MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF YEAST
Our group is interested in the potential use of yeast as work-horse for lipid production for biotechnological applications. The focus of our most recent work is to study the signaling mechanisms that alter the accumulation of lipid droplets in yeast, using S. cerevisiae, Yarrowia lipolytica and Usitlago maydis. We use biochemistry, yeast genetics, microarray and systems biology approaches. We had previously reported a rapid high throughput method to study lipid droplet dynamics in the known yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Bozaquel-Morais BL, PLoS One. 2010 Oct 28;5(10):e13692) that have enable us to discover in a simple manner genes that are involved in lipid metabolisM
Monica Montero Lomeli
Associate Professor Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro,
Instituto de Bioqímica Médica-Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia
CLAUDIO AKIO MASUDA
Associate Professor Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro,
Instituto de Bioqímica Médica-Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia
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