Redox signaling and Bioenergetics and Inmunometabolism

Project (22-23).

First Project:

I am looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated candidate interested in developing a master project focused on " Flavin Redox Bifurcation as a Mechanism for Controlling Electron Flow between the Cytochrome b5 reductase and Cytochrome b5 ", This mechanism might be key for the control of redox signaling between both proteins that might be key for the pathways in which they are implicated. The candidate will also analyze the possible regulatory role of both proteins which we have seen observed to be potential sources of free radicals. 

The candidate will learn the basic principles of protein expression and purification using E. coli as a host using a plasmid containing the cDNA for the cytochrome b5 and cytochrome b5 reductase, which is already available in our lab.  The candidate will spectroscopically characterize the protein, the protein folding, and unfolding, and will spectroscopically and enzymatically assays.

I am also offering the possibility to initiate the project ASAP as extracurricular external practices to those interested candidates.

Second project:

A second project is available for students interested in performing an Erasmus Internship in the Chemistry Department at the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (Lisboa Portugal). In this project, the interested students will chemically synthesize inhibitors against the Cb5R and will be supervised by Dr. Nuno Basilio (https://laqv.requimte.pt/people/104-nuno_basilio) from the host institution a the Nova University in collaboration with Prof. Alejandro K. Samhan Arias. For more information, please contact.

Interesting readings and publications:

1:The use of flavilium salts as flexible inhibitory moieties for human Cytochrome b5 reductase.

Alejandro K. Samhan-Arias* 2022 In preparation:

2: Gutiérrez-Merino C, Martínez-Costa OH, Monsalve M, Samhan-Arias AK.
Structural Features of Cytochrome b5-Cytochrome b5 Reductase Complex Formation and Implications for the
Intramolecular Dynamics of Cytochrome b5 Reductase. Int J Mol
Sci. 2021 Dec 23;23(1):118. doi: 10.3390/ijms23010118. PMID: 35008543; PMCID:
PMC8745658.

3: Clemente SM, Martínez-Costa OH, Monsalve M, Samhan-Arias AK. Targeting Lipid
Peroxidation for Cancer Treatment. Molecules. 2020 Nov 5;25(21):5144. doi:
10.3390/molecules25215144. PMID: 33167334; PMCID: PMC7663840.

4: Valério GN, Gutiérrez-Merino C, Nogueira F, Moura I, Moura JJG, Samhan-Arias
AK. Human erythrocytes exposure to juglone leads to an increase of superoxide
anion production associated with cytochrome b₅ reductase uncoupling.
Biochim Biophys Acta Bioenerg. 2020 Feb 1;1861(2):148134. doi:
10.1016/j.bbabio.2019.148134. Epub 2019 Dec 9. PMID: 31825806.

5: Samhan-Arias AK, Cordas CM, Carepo MS, Maia LB, Gutierrez-Merino C, Moura I,
Moura JJG. Ligand accessibility to heme cytochrome b5 coordinating
sphere and enzymatic activity enhancement upon tyrosine ionization. J Biol Inorg
Chem. 2019 May;24(3):317-330. doi: 10.1007/s00775-019-01649-2. Epub 2019 Mar 5.
PMID: 30838452.

6: Samhan-Arias AK, Fortalezas S, Cordas CM, Moura I, Moura JJG, Gutierrez-
Merino C. Cytochrome b5 reductase is the component from neuronal
synaptic plasma membrane vesicles that generates superoxide anion upon
stimulation by cytochrome c. Redox Biol. 2018 May;15:109-114. doi:
10.1016/j.redox.2017.11.021. Epub 2017 Nov 27. PMID: 29227865; PMCID:
PMC5726884.

7: Samhan-Arias AK, Almeida RM, Ramos S, Cordas CM, Moura I, Gutierrez-Merino C,
Moura JJG. Topography of human cytochrome b5/cytochrome b5
reductase interacting domain and redox alterations upon complex formation.
Biochim Biophys Acta Bioenerg. 2018 Feb;1859(2):78-87. doi:
10.1016/j.bbabio.2017.10.005. Epub 2017 Oct 28. PMID: 29111436.

Full list of publications:

https://sites.google.com/fct.unl.pt/alejandro-samhan-arias/cv