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Research Area:Ìý Cell and Molecular Biology

Research Description:

Our group analyzes the functional organization of the nucleus. Components of the nuclear envelope and the nuclear transport apparatus are implicated in human disease, including several types of cancer. For our studies, mammalian-cultured cells and the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae serve as model systems.

We are particularly interested in nuclear envelope proteins and their role in organizing chromatin. In addition, trafficking of macromolecules in and out of the nucleus is being analyzed. These transport processes control cellular metabolism and are essential for cell survival upon stress. We are presently defining how different forms of stress affect trafficking between nucleus and cytoplasm. These questions are addressed with a combination of genetics, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology.

Education:Ìý Diploma, Ph.D., Cologne

Recent Publications:

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Mahboubi, H.; Yu, H.; Malca, M.; McCusty, D.; Stochaj, U. Pifithrin-µ Induces Stress Granule Formation, Regulates Cell Survival, and Rewires Cellular Signaling. Cells 2024, 13. DOT: 10.3390/cells13110885

Bietar, K.; Chu, S.; Mandl, G.; Zhang, E.; Chabaytah, N.; Sabelli, R.; Capobianco, J.A.; Stochaj, U. Silica-coated LiYF(4):Yb(3+), Tm(3+) upconverting nanoparticles are non-toxic and activate minor stress responses in mammalian cells. RSC Advances 2024, 14, 8695-8708. DOI: 10.1039/d3ra08869c

Chu, S., N. Joma, H.W. Yong, D. Maysinger, A. Kakkar, and U. Stochaj. 2023. Curcumin and butyrate induce fibroblast senescence without the emergence of fibrosis biomarkers. Aspects of Molecular Medicine. 2:100021.

Kodiha, M., N. Azad, S. Chu, N. Crampton, and U. Stochaj. 2023. Oxidative stress and signaling through EGFR and PKA pathways converge on the nuclear transport factor RanBP1. Eur. J. Cell Biol. 103:151376.Ìý

Stochaj, U. 2023. Yeast profilin mutants inhibit classical nuclear import and alter the balance between actin and tubulin levels. Biochem. Cell Biol.

Kais Bietar and Ursula Stochaj, together with the Capobianco lab (Concordia), explored new nanomaterials for the killing of glioblastoma cells.

Mandl, G.A., Vettier, F., Tessitore, G., Maurizio, S.L., Bietar, K., Stochaj, U., and Capobianco, J.A. (2023). Combining Pr(3+)-Doped Nanoradiosensitizers and Endogenous Protoporphyrin IX for X-ray-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy of Glioblastoma Cells. ACS Appl Bio Mater 6, 2370-2383.

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Siwei Chu, Stephanie Xie, Carla Payan, and Ursula Stochaj published an in-depth review relevant to neurodegeneration.

Chu, S., Xie, X., Payan, C., and Stochaj, U. (2023). Valosin containing protein (VCP): initiator, modifier, and potential drug target for neurodegenerative diseases. Mol Neurodegener 18, 52. doi:

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Chu, S.; Moujaber, O.; Lemay, S.; Stochaj, U., Multiple pathways promote microtubule stabilization in senescent intestinal epithelial cells. npj Aging 2022, 8 (1), 16.

Sharma, N.; Bietar, K.; Stochaj, U., Targeting nanoparticles to malignant tumors. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta Reviews on Cancer 2022, 1877 (3), 188703.

Psaroudis, R. T.; Singh, U.; Lora, M.; Jeon, P.; Boursiquot, A.; Stochaj, U.; Langlais, D.; Colmegna, I., CD26 is a senescence marker associated with reduced immunopotency of human adipose tissue-derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells. Stem Cell. Res. Ther. 2022, 13 (1), 358.

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Mohamed Kodiha, Dan Tran, Cynthia Qian, Andreea Morogan, John Presley, Claire M. Brown and Ursula Stochaj.
Oxidative stress mislocalizes and retains nuclear transport factor importin-α and nucleoporins Nup153 and Nup88 in nuclei where they generate high molecular mass complexes.
BBA Molecular Cell Research (2007), in press

Mohamed Kodiha, James G. Rassi, Claire M. Brown and Ursula Stochaj.
The localization of AMP kinase is regulated by stress, cell density and signaling through the MEK→ERK1/2 pathway.
Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 293: 1427 (2007)

Xinxin Quan, Jennifer Yu, Howard Bussey and Ursula Stochaj.
The localization of nuclear exporters of the importin-β family is regulated by Snf1 kinase, nutrient supply and stress.
BBA Molecular Cell Research 1773: 1052 (2007)

Ursula Stochaj, Piotr Bański, Mohamed Kodiha and Neola Matusiewicz.
The N-terminal domain of the mammalian nucleoporin p62 interacts with other nucleoporins of the FXFG family during interphase.
Experim. Cell Res. 312: 2490 (2006)

Xinxin Quan, Panagiotis Tsoulos, Alexandra Kuritzky, Rui Zhang and Ursula Stochaj.
The carrier Msn5p/Kap142p promotes nuclear export of the hsp70 Ssa4p and relocates in response to stress.
Molecular Microbiology 62: 592 (2006)

Mohamed Kodiha, Angel Chu, Omar Lazrak and Ursula Stochaj.
Stress inhibits nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of heat shock protein hsc70.
Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 289: 1034 (2005)

Mohamed Kodiha, Angel Chu, Neola Matusiewicz and Ursula Stochaj.
Multiple mechanisms promote the inhibition of classical nuclear import upon exposure to severe oxidative stress.
Cell Death & Differentiation 11: 862 (2004)

Xinxin Quan, Roozbeh Rassadi, Bashir Rabie, Neola Matusiewicz and Ursula Stochaj.
Regulated nuclear accumulation of the yeast hsp70 Ssa4p in ethanol-stressed cells is mediated by the N-terminal domain, requires the nuclear carrier Nmd5p and protein kinase C.
FASEB Journal 12: 1296/fj.03–0947fje (2004)

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