Zolessi

GROUP LEADER NAME (as it appears in publications):

Flavio R. Zolessi (Zolessi F.R.)

AFFILIATION:

Sección Biología Celular, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Uruguay. 

TEL:*  +598 2525 8618, ext. 7144

EMAIL:* fzolessi@fcien.edu.uy 

WEB:  http://bcelular.fcien.edu.uy/investigacion/biologa-celular-del-desarrollo-neural

GROUP NAME / RESEARCH INTEREST IN FEW WORDS:

Cell polarity transitions in early stages of neural development and neuronal differentiation

SHORT SUMMARY OF RESEARCH INTEREST (MAX. 200 WORDS):

The vertebrates central nervous system is extremely complex, and this complexity is achieved during development in a step-wise manner involving a series of cell state transitions and signaling events that start in the undifferentiated neuroepithelium.

One approach we have taken to address this issue is the characterization of the actin-modulating MARCKS proteins, which participate in different steps of neural development, such as neurulation and neuronal differentiation. MARCKS is a ubiquitous protein for which we have described a phosphorylated isoform specific for differentiating neurons in the chick. In the zebrafish, we have found and started to study, two genes encoding MARCKS homolog proteins, as well as two other encoding MRP (MARCKS-related protein).

Another approach is to study the acquisition of the correct polarity and orientation of retinal neurons in the zebrafish using, among others, in vivo microscopy techniques. A comparison of the dynamics of these events in normal and mutant or genetically manipulated individuals, allowed us to uncover essential roles of polarized signals found in the neuroepithelium in the process of neuronal orientation and polarization. In particular, we have shown that laminin 1 localized in the basal lamina is both necessary and sufficient for the correct polarization of retinal ganglion cells.

LIST OF UP TO FIVE RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS:

1- Aparicio G, Arruti C, Zolessi FR (2018) MARCKS phosphorylation by PKC strongly impairs cell polarity in the chick neural plate. Genesis 56(4): e23104. doi: 10.1002/dvg.23104.

2- Prieto D., Zolessi F.R. (2017) Functional diversification of the four MARCKS family members in zebrafish neural development. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 328(1-2):119-138. doi: 10.1002/jez.b.22691.

3- Lepanto P., Davison C., Casanova G., Badano J.L., Zolessi F.R. (2016) Characterization of primary cilia during the differentiation of retinal ganglion cells in the zebrafish. Neural Dev. 11(1):10. doi: 10.1186/s13064-016-0064-z.2- Zolessi F.R. (2016) Vertebrate neurogenesis: cell polarity (v. 3). Encyclopedia of Life Sciences (Wiley). Review. DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0000826.pub3.

4- Prieto D., Aparicio G., Morande P.E., Zolessi F.R. (2014) A fast, low cost, and highly efficient fluorescent DNA labeling method using methyl green. Histochem Cell Biol 142(3):335-45.

5- Zolessi F.R., Poggi L., Wilkinson C.J., Chien C.-B., Harris W.A. (2006) Polarization and orientation of retinal ganglion cells in vivo. Neural Develop. 1: 2. 

GROUP MEMBERS (NAME, POSITION, EMAIL):*

1- Gonzalo Aparicio, Doctoral Student, gaparicio@fcien.edu.uy

2- Camila Davison, Doctoral Student, cdavison@fcien.edu.uy

3- Magela Rodao, Master Student, mrodao@fcien.edu.uy

4- Lucía Veloz, Master Student, lveloz@fcien.edu.uy

5- Ileana Sosa, Master Sudent, isosa@fcien.edu.uy

FISH FACILITIES (TYPE OF FISH SYSTEM/TANKS, CAPACITY, ETC.)*

One Tecniplast Zebtec standalone unit, 10x 15L tanks and 30x 8L tanks.

FISH LINES KEPT IN STOCK:*

- Tab-5, wild-type 

- Casper / Roy

- Atoh7:Gap43-GFP

- Atoh7:Gap43-RFP 

- SoFa1

- Brn3C:Gap43-GFP

- HuC:GFP

- NeuroD:TagRFP

- Arl13b-GFP 

etc...

OTHER EQUIPMENT RELATED TO ZEBRAFISH RESEARCH*

Two microinjection systems, one fluorescence dissecting microscope.

LAB EXPERTISE AND TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES (RELATED TO ZEBRAFISH RESEARCH)*

Whole-mount immunofluorescence, in vivo imaging, Western-blot, microinjections, genomic editing with CRISPR-Cas9, gene knockdown using morpholinos, transgenesis and transient gene overexpression (mRNA and DNA), retina primary cell culture.

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:*

The zebrafish lab is installed at the Institut Pasteur de Montevideo and is shared with Dr. José Badano.