Victoria Menendez Benito
Lecturer
E-mail: victoria.menendez.benito@ki.se
Visiting address: ,
Postal address: H5 Laboratoriemedicin, H5 Klin Kemi, 141 52 Huddinge
About me
- I am a cell and molecular biologist. I completed my PhD at Karolinska
Institutet in 2006. After that, I did a postdoc at the labs of Prof. Neefjes
and Prof. van Leeuwen at The Netherlands Cancer Institute. From 2014, I
worked as a PI at BioNut (KI), studying protein quality control and cell
division. I am also an engaged educator. I have trained undergraduate and
graduate students in the lab and taught within the bio探花精选 study line at
KI. Currently, I am a lecturer at LabMed, teaching at the Bio探花精选
Laboratory Science (BMA) program and continuing my work in cell and molecular
biology.
*Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (2006)* 鈥淭he ubiquitin-proteasome system
during proteotoxic stress鈥, 探花精选
*Bachelor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2000)*, University of
Oviedo (Spain)
*Bachelor of Chemistry (1998)*, University of Oviedo (Spain)
Research
- I am interested in understanding the basic principles that allow cells to
partition their chromosomes, organelles, and proteins during cell division. I
use budding yeast as a model organism and combine classical genetics,
microscopy, and cell biology. My current research lines are:
* *Molecular mechanisms of chromosome congression. *During cell division,
sister chromatids align at either side of the spindle equator. This
process, known as chromosome congression, contributes to the equal
segregation of chromosomes. To achieve chromosome congression requires the
coordinated action of microtubule regulatory proteins. In my lab, we have
recently discovered that the plus-end tracking protein Bik1 (the budding
yeast homolog of CLIP-170) plays an essential role in chromosome
congression. We are investigating the molecular mechanisms of Bik1 and its
interplay with kinesins and other microtubule-binding proteins.
* *Asymmetries of the budding yeast spindle pole bodies (SPB).* The
centrosome duplicates in a semi-conservative manner, each cell division
generates two centrosomes that differ in age, composition, and function.
In budding yeast, mother and daughter SPBs (the functional equivalent of
centrosomes) have different ages. In my laboratory, we are searching for
age-dependent post-translational modifications of the SPBs and evaluating
their role in regulating cell cycle progression.
* *Protein inheritance during asymmetric cell division. *Asymmetric
dividing cells use their polarity to unequally segregate cellular
components (including organelles, proteins and RNAs) between daughter
cells. This mechanism allows cells to propagate fitness and specific
traits to individual progeny. However, a global view of the proteins with
asymmetric inheritance and their link with lifespan is still lacking,
partly because birth-dating and following proteins at cellular resolution
is technically difficult. In my lab, we address this challenge using a
genetic method named recombination induced tag exchange (RITE), which
allows visualizing protein inheritance in budding yeast by microscopy.
Teaching
- Along with my research activities, I teach within the bio探花精选 study line
in four main areas: biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, and laboratory
methodology.
I organise and teach Bachelor Bio探花精选 Laboratory Science (BMA) and
Dentistry programs courses. I am also an examiner of the final research
project presentations in the Master in Biomedicine program. I contribute as
an invited lecturer on molecular biology techniques in the Bachelor in
Biomedicine. I have directed and co-directed PhD courses (鈥淭he Cell
Cycle鈥 and 鈥淔luorescence Microscopy: High content image acquisition and
Analysis鈥) and lectured at the PhD course 鈥淢icroscopy: Improve your
imaging skills - from sample preparation to image analysis鈥. Furthermore, I
train research students in the laboratory and have successfully supervised
two doctoral and four master theses and trained three short-term master
students.
My teaching philosophy is based on my excitement for the bio探花精选 sciences,
my deep care for the success of my students, and my wish to provide students
with analytical skills and critical thinking that will serve them in whatever
career path they choose. To bring effectiveness and meaning to the teaching
and learning experience, I focus on three goals:
* Promoting active learning by designing learning activities where the
students can directly apply concepts and theory.
* Training the students in critical thinking skills by using inquiry-based
instruction.
* Fostering learning through effective communication and collaboration by
designing learning activities based on group work.
Articles
- Journal article: BIOLOGY OPEN. 2022;11(11):bio059565
- Article: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL. 2022;33(5):br7
- Article: JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE. 2017;130(19):3336-3346
- Article: GENOME RESEARCH. 2015;25(6):872-883
- Article: JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE. 2015;128(1):109-117
- Article: G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS. 2013;3(8):1261-1272
- Article: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 2013;110(1):175-180
- Article: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 2010;107(1):64-68
- Article: MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY. 2009;29(7):1774-1785
- Article: CANCER RESEARCH. 2007;67(20):10078-10086
- Article: MOLECULAR CELL. 2007;26(2):175-188
- Article: CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY. 2006;13(11):1217-1226
- Article: HUMAN MOLECULAR GENETICS. 2005;14(19):2787-2799
- Article: NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY. 2003;21(8):897-902
All other publications
- Preprint: BIORXIV. 2021
- Editorial comment: IMMUNITY. 2007;26(1):1-3
- Letter: FASEB JOURNAL. 2006;20(7):1027-1028
- Doctoral thesis: 2006
- Meeting abstract: EUROPEAN NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY. 2006;16:S183
- Review: RECOMBINANT PROTEIN EXPRESSION: PROKARYOTIC HOSTS AND CELL-FREE SYSTEMS. 2005;399:490-511
Grants
- Mapping the inheritance of the yeast proteome to discover mechanisms of ageing and rejuvenatio探花精选 - KID funding1 January 2024
- The centrosome-primary cilium cycle in kidney diseaseSwedish Foundation for Strategic Research1 January 2021 - 1 January 2022
- Mapping the inheritance of the yeast proteome to discover mechanisms of ageing and rejuvenationSwedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education1 January 2019 - 1 January 2026
- Mapping the inheritance of the yeast proteome to discover mechanisms of aging and rejuvenationRoyal Swedish Academy of Sciences1 January 2018 - 1 January 2021
- Developing a yeast library for systematic analysis of in vivo protein dynamics.Carl Tryggers Stiftelse f枚r Vetenskaplig Forskning1 January 2017 - 1 January 2018
- Deciphering the role of centrosomes in asymmetric cell division脜ke Wibergs Stiftelse1 January 2016 - 1 January 2017
- Deciphering the role of centrosomes in asymmetric cell division脜ke Wibergs Stiftelse1 January 2015 - 1 January 2016
- Deciphering the role of centrosomes in asymmetric cell division探花精选 _ KID funding
- Proteomics and genome-wide screening of yeast to decipher the centrosome polarization; a key event in asymmetric cell divisionRoyal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Employments
- Lecturer, Department of Laboratory Medicine, 探花精选, 2022-
Degrees and Education
- Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, 探花精选, 2006
- MSc Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oviedo, 2000
- MSc Chemistry, University of Oviedo, 1998
Supervision
- Jana Lalakova, 2015
- Alexander Julner, Microtubule and chromosome dynamics during mitosis in budding yeast
- Marjan Abbasi, Microtubule and Spindle Pole Body regulation in the budding yeast mitotic spindle
Visiting research fellowships
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, 2006-2012
Thesis evaluation
- Laura Matell谩n Fern谩ndez, Examination board member, Andalusian Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine Centre, Study of asymmetries associated with the mitotic spindle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 2020
- Anna Bosch Commas, Examination board member, Genetics, University of Barcelona, USP25 deubiquitylating enzyme: substrate search and structure-function relationship, 2017
- Helena Silva Cascales, Examination board member, CMB, 探花精选, Cyclins on the move: a time and a place for Cyclin A2 and cycling B1 in the human cell cycle, %20Silva_Cascales.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y, 2016
- Sjoerd van Devender, Examination board member, Leiden University, Tracking the big ones: Novel dynamics of organelles and micromolecular complexes during cell division and aging, , 2015