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Dr. Aponte-Collazo successfully defended his PhD, “Exploring the role of mitochondrial protease ClpP in apoptosis regulation of triple negative breast cancer cells,” July 27.

Dr. Lucas Aponte-Collazo with his mother and brother at PhD defense
Dr. Lucas Aponte-Collazo in his Pharmacology White Coat with his mother and brother after successfully defending his PhD.

Dr. Aponte-Collazo’s defense talk was titled Exploring the role of mitochondrial protease ClpP in apoptosis regulation of triple negative breast cancer cells.”

Dr. Aponte-Collazo’s mentor is Dr. Lee Graves.

Publications

Small molecule clpp agonists induce senescence and alter trail-mediated apoptotic response of triple-negative breast cancer cells.
Aponte-Collazo, L.J., Fennell, E.M.J., East, M.P., Gilbert, T.S.K., Graves, P.R., Ashamalla, H., Iwanowicz, E.J., Greer, Y.E., Lipkowitz, S., Graves, L.M. bioRxiv, 2202.07.11.499620.
doi: 10.1101/2022.07.11.499620

Characterization of TR-107, a Novel Chemical Activator of the Human Mitochondrial Protease ClpP
Fennell, E.M.J., Aponte-Collazo, L.J., Wynn, J.D., Drizyte-Miller, K., Leung, E., Greer, Y.E., Graves, P.R., Iwanowicz, A.A., Ashamalla, H., Holmuhamedov, E., Lang, H., Karanewsky, D.S., Der, C.J., Houry, W.A., Lipkowitz, S., Iwanowicz, E.J., Graves, L.M.
bioRxiv 2022.02.14.480426.
doi: 10.1101/2022.02.14.480426

Cocaine-Induced Locomotor Activation Differs Across Inbred Mouse Substrains.
Gaines, C.H., Schoenrock, S.A., Farrington, J., Lee, D.F., Aponte-Collazo, L.J., Shaw, G.D., Miller, D.R., Ferris, M.T., Pardo-Manuel de Villena, F., Tarantino, L.M. Front Psychiatry. 2022 May 6;13:800245. PMID: 35599758. PMC9120424.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.800245

Lyn regulates creatine uptake in an imatinib-resistant CML cell line.
Okumu, D.O., Aponte-Collazo, L.J., Dewar, B.J., Cox, N.J., East, M.P., Tech, K., McDonald, I.M., Tikunov, A.P., Holmuhamedov, E., Macdonald, J.M., Graves, L.M. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj. 2020 Apr;1864(4):129507. Epub 2019 Dec 24. PMID: 31881245. PMC7055176
doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2019.129507

Mitochondrial Protease ClpP is a Target for the Anticancer Compounds ONC201 and Related Analogues.
Graves, P.R., Aponte-Collazo, L.J., Fennell, E.M.J., Graves, A.C., Hale, A.E., Dicheva, N., Herring, L.E., Gilbert, T.S.K., East, M.P., McDonald, I.M., Lockett, M.R., Ashamalla, H., Moorman, N.J., Karanewsky, D.S., Iwanowicz, E.J., Holmuhamedov, E., Graves, L.M. ACS Chem Biol. 2019 May 17;14(5):1020-1029. Epub 2019 May 1. PMID: 31021596. PMC6528275.
doi: 10.1021/acschembio.9b00222.

Awards & Highlights

Pharmacology Service and Outreach Award, 2019

Co-Founder Scientific Training and Research (STAR) Program in 2018 to provide hands-on scientific training by performing experiments with the students every month at their school. Star Students Visit Pharmacology!, Sept. 13, 2019.


Pictures from Lucas’ defense and white coat ceremony. Click for larger images.