Fernando R. Cabral, Ph.D.
1974, University of Rochester Medical School
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Medical School
Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology
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Fernando R. Cabral, Ph.D. 1974, University of Rochester Medical School The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston |
Research Interests:
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:
Yang H, Cabral F (2007) Heightened sensitivity to paclitaxel in class IVa beta-tubulin transfected cells is lost as expression increases. J Biol Chem. 282, 27058-27066.
Yin S, Cabral F, Veeraraghavan S (2007) Amino acid substitutions at proline 220 of beta-tubulin confer resistance to paclitaxel and colcemid. Mol. Cancer Ther. 6, 2798-2806.
Bhattacharya R, Frankfurter A, Cabral F (2008) A minor beta-tubulin essential for mammalian cell proliferation. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton in press.
Program Affiliation:
Program in Cell and Regulatory
Biology (Pharmacology Track)