Dr. Fernando R. Cabral
Regular Member
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Medical School
Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology
Research Interests:
- Tubulin
- Kinesin
- Mitosis
- Cell division
- Drug resistance
- Cancer
- Cytoskeleton
- Microtubules
The primary focus of this laboratory is the regulation of expression and assembly of tubulin in mutant mammalian cells. Altered assembly of tubulin into microtubules affects a number of important cellular events such as chromosome segregation, cell division, and motility. The isolation of mutants has helped us to study these processes and to determine some of the mechanisms by which cells become resistant to drugs that are used in cancer chemotherapy.
Tutorials to examine the mechanisms of action and mechanisms of cellular resistance to anticancer drugs that target microtubules are available. Related projects to explore the role of kinesin motor molecules in microtubule behavior, mitosis, and drug action are also available. Techniques used include genetics, cell culture, recombinant DNA techniques, gene transfection, immunofluorescence, live cell imaging, and protein structural studies.
Selected Publications:
Ganguly, A., Yang, H., and Cabral, F. (2010). Paclitaxel dependent cell lines reveal a novel drug activity. Mol. Cancer Ther. 9, 2914-2923.
Yang, H., Ganguly, A., and Cabral, F. (2010). Inhibition of cell migration and cell division correlate with distinct effects of microtubule inhibiting drugs. J. Biol. Chem. 285, 32242-32250.
Yin, S., Bhattacharya, R., and Cabral, F. (2010). Human mutations that confer paclitaxel resistance. Mol. Cancer Ther. 9, 327-335.
Yang, H., Ganguly, A., Yin, S., and Cabral, F. (2011). Megakaryocyte lineage-specific class VI ?-tubulin suppresses microtubule dynamics, fragments microtubules, and blocks cell division. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 68, 175-187.
Bhattacharya, R., Yang, H., and Cabral, F. (2011). Class V ?-tubulin alters dynamic instability and stimulates microtubule detachment from centrosomes. Mol. Biol. Cell 22, 1025-1034.
Ganguly, A., Yang, H., and Cabral, F. (2011). Class III ?-tubulin counteracts the ability of paclitaxel to inhibit cell migration. Oncotarget 2, 368-377.
Ganguly, A., Yang, H., and Cabral, F. (2011). Overexpression of mitotic centromere-associated kinesin stimulates microtubule detachment and confers resistance to paclitaxel. Mol Cancer Ther 10, 929-937.
Ganguly, A., Yang, H., Pedroza, M., Bhattacharya, R., and Cabral, F. (2011). Mitotic centromere associated kinesin (MCAK) mediates paclitaxel resistance. J. Biol. Chem. 286, 36378-36384.
Additional Publications
Program Affiliation:
Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology (Pharmacology Track)
Contact Information
Phone: 713.500.7485
Email: Fernando.R.Cabral@uth.tmc.edu
Office: MSB 4.212
Title: Professor
Education:
Ph.D. - University of Rochester - 1974
