Linking planar polarity signalling to actomyosin contractility during vertebrate neurulation.

Actomyosin contractility represents an ancient feature of eukaryotic cells participating in many developmental and homeostasis events, including tissue morphogenesis, muscle contraction and cell migration, with dysregulation implicated in various pathological conditions, such as cancer. At the molecular level, actomyosin comprises actin bundles and myosin motor proteins that are sensitive to posttranslational modifications like phosphorylation. While the molecular components of actomyosin are well understood, the coordination of contractility by extracellular and intracellular signals, particularly from cellular signalling pathways, remains incompletely elucidated.

The Flavonol Quercitrin Hinders GSK3 Activity and Potentiates the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway.

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway dictates cell proliferation and differentiation during embryonic development and tissue homeostasis. Its deregulation is associated with many pathological conditions, including neurodegenerative disease, frequently downregulated. The lack of efficient treatment for these diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), makes Wnt signaling an attractive target for therapies.

Establishing embryonic territories in the context of Wnt signaling.

This review highlights the work that my research group has been developing, together with international collaborators, during the last decade. Since we were able to establish the experimental model in Brazil, we have been focused on understanding early embryonic patterns regarding neural induction and axes establishment. In this context, the Wnt pathway appears as a major player and has been much explored by us and other research groups.

The Chalcone Lonchocarpin Inhibits Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling and Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Proliferation.

The deregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is a central event in colorectal cancer progression, thus a promising target for drug development. Many natural compounds, such as flavonoids, have been described as Wnt/β-catenin inhibitors and consequently modulate important biological processes like inflammation, redox balance, cancer promotion and progress, as well as cancer cell death. In this context, we identified the chalcone lonchocarpin isolated from as a Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor, both in vitro and in vivo.

Advances in the use of Xenopus for successful drug screening.

Understanding embryogenesis currently relies largely on the control of gene expression via several signaling pathways. Many of the embryonic signaling pathways guiding embryological events are implicated in diseases that lack effective cure or treatment. Because of the large number and size of the eggs, the rapid development of the embryos and the fact they are amenable to pharmacological, surgical and genetic techniques, Xenopus laevis has been successfully used in searching for compounds that target embryonic signaling pathways.

Cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains modulate Wnt/β-catenin morphogen gradient during Xenopus development.

Wnt/β-catenin has been described as crucial for dorsal-ventral and antero-posterior patterning, playing multiple roles at different stages of development. Cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains (CRMMs), cholesterol- and sphingolipid-enriched domains of the plasma membrane, are known as platforms for signaling pathways. Although we have demonstrated the importance of the CRMMs for head development, how they participate in prechordal plate formation and embryo axis patterning remains an open question.

A Study of a Geographical Cluster of Huntington's Disease in a Brazilian Town of Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais State.

Background/aims: Our aim was to investigate a geographical cluster of Huntington's disease (HD) in Ervalia, a Brazilian town of Minas Gerais state (MG). Therefore, we calculated the minimum prevalence of HD in Ervalia, known to have many HD affected families. We also determined the genetic profile of the polymorphic CAG region of the HTT gene in 32 subjects of these affected families.