14.11.2024
Doctoral thesis on the role of vimetine in cellular stress situations
M.Sc. Leila Coelho Rato’s doctoral thesis in Cell Biology will be put forth for public defence at the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Åbo Akademi University.
The thesis is entitled The role of vimentin in cell growth and fibroblast function: A focus on the mTORC1 pathway.
The public defence of the doctoral thesis takes place on Thursday 21 November 2024 at 1PM, in Auditorium Argentum, Aurum, Henrikinkatu 2, Turku. You can also follow the defence online. Professor Pierre Coulombe, University of Michigan, USA, will serve as opponent and Professor John Eriksson, Åbo Akademi University, as custos.
Summary
Cellular responses to nutrients, including metabolic adjustments and cell proliferation, are essential for normal development and various disease conditions. They involve coordinated processes between large protein complexes and organelles. Vimentin, a cytoskeletal protein expressed in mesenchymal cells like fibroblasts, has traditionally been studied for its role in cell motility, wound healing, and metastasis. While its structural functions are well-documented, less is known about how vimentin influences nutrient-dependent signaling, particularly in stress situations like wound healing where rapid cellular responses are critical. This thesis investigates vimentin’s role in the mTORC1 pathway, a key nutrient signaling modulator. It shows that vimentin-deficient fibroblasts are smaller, with reduced protein synthesis and increased degradation. The research proposes that vimentin acts as a positive modulator of mTORC1 signaling, enhancing cellular growth and resilience in nutrient-poor conditions. It identifies vimentin as an important organizer of the mTORC1 activation machinery, proposing the first direct link between vimentin to mTORC1 signaling. Then, this thesis demonstrates that vimentin can be delivered to fibroblasts via extracellular vesicles, contributing to their function, especially during wound healing. These findings suggest that vimentin plays a crucial role in modulating cell growth and maintaining cellular functions necessary for tissue repair. The work demonstrates that vimentin integrates cell metabolism with mechanics, an important advantage in many complex processes related to both developmental and disease conditions such as wound healing and cancer.
Leila Coelho Rato can be reached by phone 040 220 1212 or email leila.coelhorato@abo.fi.
The doctoral thesis can be read online through the Doria publication archive.
Click here for a press photo of the doctoral student.
Instructions for following the doctoral defence remotely:
To follow the defence, you need the Zoom software or the Google Chrome browser. You do not need to create a Zoom account to follow the defence. If you install the application, you participate by clicking on the meeting link, after which you should allow the link to open in the Zoom app.