Enilza Maria Espreafico

Master (1987) and PhD (1992) in Biochemistry from the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo. Completed an internship (1990 to 1992) at Yale University (USA), which proved to be decisive for the identification and functional characterization of Myosin-Va. Completed post-doctoral internships at the University of São Paulo, Yale University and the National Institutes of Health (USA). Since 1993, has been assistant professor at the University of São Paulo - Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto. Conducts research in the areas of Cellular and Molecular Biology, with a current focus on tumorigenesis and tumor progression, especially in pathways controlling apoptosis and transition to metastasis, with emphasis on two aspects, one focused on understanding processes coordinated by the actin cytoskeleton and the molecular motor myosin-V and the other, to the discovery of new genes with an expression profile indicative of involvement in melanoma tumorigenesis and metastasis of melanoma. The laboratory employs contemporary methodologies for the genetic manipulation of mammalian cells, using plasmid and lentiviral vectors for the expression of proteins or active protein fragments and interference through RNAi. As one of the products of this research, the group developed a molecule (MVaf) with intense power to induce apoptotic death in melanoma cells. Has hed extensive experience in the production and characterization of antibodies and heterologous proteins in bacteria. Has made a significant contribution to the characterization of the molecular structure of myosin-Va, as well as the systematic determination of the subcellular distribution and expression profile of this myosin in melanocytes, neurons, lymphocytes, endocrine glands and other cell types. Her group has also described the role of this myosin in the migration and invasion activity of melanoma cells and in mitochondrial fission activity. The researcher's contribution extends to the community, in support of the molecular diagnosis of Griscelli Syndrome, having identified new mutations in the RAB27A gene and the MYO5A gene in Brazilian patients and opening perspectives regarding early diagnosis and the possibility of considering gene therapy. Recently, her group has been focusing on two research fronts: 1) determining the role of a 10-subunit protein complex (EMC), belonging to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, on post-translational modification, anchoring to the plasma membrane and activity of Ras signaling proteins, whose genes constitute the main oncogenes in many types of human cancer; 2) determine the structure and function of melanoma-enriched lncRNAs (RMELs) and whose silencing reduces the survival, proliferation and invasion of melanoma cells. Completed a sabbatical internship at New York University (2023 - 2024), which boosted the research on the role of the EMC complex in the RAS biogenesis and plasma membrane association. With these studies we hope to contribute to the proposition of new selective anti-tumor strategies. (Source: Lattes Curriculum)