Victoria Menendez Benito

Victoria Menendez Benito

Adjunkt
Besöksadress: ,
Postadress: H5 Laboratoriemedicin, H5 Klin Kemi, 141 52 Huddinge
Del av:

Om mig

  • 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. Since 2014, I am a PI at the department of Biosciences and
    Nutrition at KI.
    *Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (2006)* “The ubiquitin-proteasome system
    during proteotoxic stress”, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
    *Bachelor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2000)*, University of
    Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
    *Bachelor of Chemistry (1998)*, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain

Forskningsbeskrivning

  • 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.

Undervisning

  • Along with my research activities, I contribute to the education of students
    at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
    My teaching style is influenced by my experience as a researcher and
    supervisor. I have trained one student technician
  • seven master's students,
    and I am currently the principal supervisor of two doctoral students.
    Overall, I teach diverse topics in the classroom, including cell biology
    (cell cycle), the fundaments of laboratory methods (molecular biology, gene
    editing, real-time PCR, high-throughput microscopy, and image analysis) and
    scientific communication. I regularly teach in the courses "Applied
    Communication in Biosciences" (Master's program in Biomedicine) and
    "Genetics, genomics, and functional genetics" (Biomedicine Bachelor's
    Program). Furthermore, I am an evaluator of the project proposal and examiner
    of the oral presentations in the "Degree Project Course" (Master's program in
    Biomedicine). Besides, I have directed a PhD course, The Cell Cycle", and
    frequently lecture in other PhD courses at Karolinska Institutet.
    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 the 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.

Artiklar

Alla övriga publikationer

Forskningsbidrag

  • Kartläggning av jästproteomets nedärvning i syfte att utforska mekanismerna bakom åldrande och föryngring
    Karolinska Institutet - KID funding
    1 January 2024
  • Primär cilie-centrosom cyckeln i njursjukdom
    Stiftelsen för Strategisk Forskning
    1 January 2021 - 1 January 2022
  • Mapping the inheritance of the yeast proteome to discover mechanisms of ageing and rejuvenation
    Stiltefsen för Internationalisering an högre utbildning och forskning
    1 January 2019 - 1 January 2026
  • Kartläggning av jästproteomets nedärvning isyfte att utforska mekanismerna bakom åldrande och föryngring
    Vetenskapsrådet
    1 January 2018 - 1 January 2021
  • Att utveckla ett jästbiblitotek för systematisk analysis av in vivo protein dynamik
    Carl Tryggers Stiftelse för Vetenskaplig Forskning
    1 January 2017 - 1 January 2018
  • Rollen av centrosomer i asymmetrisk celldelning
    Åke Wibergs Stiftelse
    1 January 2016 - 1 January 2017
  • Rollen av centrosomer i asymmetrisk celldelning
    Åke Wibergs Stiftelse
    1 January 2015 - 1 January 2016
  • Att avkoda rollen för centrosomer i asymmetrisk celldelning
    Karolinska Institutet _ KID funding
  • Proteomik och storskalig screening av jäst mutanter för att förstå centrosom polarisation; en nyckelprocess för asymmetrisk celldelning
    Vetenskapsrådet

Anställningar

  • Adjunkt, Laboratoriemedicin, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-

Examina och utbildning

  • MEDICINE DOKTORSEXAMEN, Institutionen för cell- och molekylärbiologi, Karolinska Institutet, 2006
  • Magisterexamen i Biokemi och Molekylärbiologi, University of Oviedo, 2000
  • Magister i Kemi, University of Oviedo, 1998

Handledare

  • 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

Gästforskning och resestipendier

  • Postdoktor Forskningsstipendiat, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, 2006-2012

Utvärdering av avhandlingsarbete

  • Laura Matellán Fernández, 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, Karolinska Institute, Cyclins on the move: a time and a place for Cyclin A2 and cycling B1 in the human cell cycle, https://openarchive.ki.se/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10616/45165/Thesis_Helen_%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, https://scholarlypublications.universiteitleiden.nl/handle/1887/35931, 2015

Nyheter från KI

Kalenderhändelser från KI