Fátima Gebauer

Fátima Gebauer
Centre de Regulació Genòmica (CRG), Spain
Exploiting post-transcriptional regulation to uncover novel vulnerabilities of metastasic cells
Project leader

• Maria Soengas
  Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Spain
  Co-leader

• Santiago Ramón y Cajal
  Fundació Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Spain

The aim of our project was to find novel melanoma biomarkers or therapeutic targets within the family of RNA-binding proteins, a group that has been relatively overlooked in cancer. A functional screen allowed us to identify RNA-binding proteins that modulate malignancy, and we have focused on a small group with potential roles in translational reprogramming, immune modulation, or regulation of the unfolded protein response, all these processes influencing metastatic spread. We have found:

• A novel role for CSDE1 as a tumour suppressor regulating oncogene-induced senescence (Avolio et al., Cell Reports 2022). We have also characterized this protein as a potential biomarker for melanoma (in preparation).

• A role for a dsRNA-binding protein in immune modulation of melanoma cells (Tejedó et al., under review).

• A role for an unconventional RNA-binding protein in anoikis resistance and metastasis (Mestre-Farrás et al, under review).

Further characterization of these proteins my allow the design of small molecule inhibitors to fight against melanoma.

Fátima Gebauer is Senior Group Leader at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), where she coordinates the Gene Regulation, Stem Cells and Cancer Programme. Before joining the CRG, she spent one year as staff scientist at EMBL. She also did postdocs in the labs of Joel Richter (UMass, USA) and Matthias Hentze (EMBL, Germany). Gebauer is EMBO member, editor of RNA and elected Chair of the EMBL Alumni Association.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7563-0013

Our group is interested in mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation in cancer. These mechanisms are being increasingly recognized as essential for cancer cell adaptation, reprogramming and stress survival. We use high-throughput methods combined with bioinformatics, biochemistry, cell-based assays and animal models to understand fundamental principles of RNA metabolism, and to dissect how RNA-binding proteins and their cognate sequences regulate these processes.

mRNA Translation, RNA binding protein, polyadenylation, development, cancer, metastasis

• Avolio R, Inglés-Ferrandiz M, Ciocia A, Coll O, Bonnin S, Guitart T, Ribó A and Gebauer F. 2022. Coordinated post-transcriptional control of oncogene-induced senescence by UNR/CSDE1. Cell Reports. 38: 110211.

• Kakumani PK, Guitart T, Houle F, Harvey LM, Goyer B, Germain L, Gebauer F, Simard MJ. 2021. CSDE1 attenuates microRNA-mediated silencing of PMEPA1 in melanoma. Oncogene. 40:3231-3244.

• Gebauer F*1, Schwarzl T1, Valcárcel J and Hentze M*. 2021. RNA binding proteins in human genetic disease. Nature Reviews Genetics. 22: 185-198. (*) Co-corresponding; (1) Co-first.

• Indacochea A, Guerrero S*, Ureña M, Araujo F, Lleonart ME* and Gebauer F*. 2021. CIRBP promotes breast cancer cell malignancy by regulating CST3 mRNA levels. RNA. 27:190-201. *Co-corresponding.

Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)
C/ Dr. Aiguader, 88
PRBB Building
08003 Barcelona
Spain
Tel.: +34 93 316 01 00

https://www.crg.eu/en