Rosa Barrio
rbarrio
Rosa Barrio
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Ubiquitin-likes And Development Lab
Address: Bizkaia Science and Technology Park, building 801A, Derio (Bizkaia)

Rosa Barrio started her work on ubiquitin-like genes during her PhD at the Center of Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa (Madrid, Spain), where she characterized the ubiquitin genes in Drosophila. During her postdoctoral stay in the laboratory of Prof FC Kafatos (Harvard University-USA, IMBB-Greece, EMBL-Germany) she initiated her work on SALL transcription factors, which she continued at the laboratory of Dr JF de Celis and Prof García-Bellido at the CBMSO (Madrid, Spain). Mutations in the genes encoding those factors cause hereditary human diseases, such as the Townes-Brocks and the Okihiro syndromes (TBS and OS). She obtained a Ramón y Cajal contract in 2003. Since December 2004 she is in charge of the Laboratory 1 at the Functional Genomics Unit of CIC bioGUNE. The laboratory is currently investigating different aspects of the role of SALL and SUMO during development. In addition, the laboratory developed new technology for the isolation of proteins modified by SUMO and other Ubiquitin-likes, both in vivo and in cultured cells, either in Drosophila or in mammalian systems, which will have wide applications in the field. Rosa Barrio coordinated two European projects, one of them dedicated to the training of early stage researchers (ITN program, UPStream); the other grant being a large consortium of European groups interested in the field of the ubiquitin-likes (COST, PROTEOSTASIS).

Latest Publications

2022

2021

2020

Post-translational modifications by ubiquitin-like modifiers (proteins similar to ubiquitin) can influence many aspects of protein homeostasis, such are stability, localization or activity. SUMOylation is a reversible process by which SUMO, the Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier, is attached to target proteins and modify their properties. We discovered that SUMO has an important role in cholesterol intake, contributing to steroid hormone synthesis through the regulation of the Scavenger Receptors SR-B1 and the nuclear receptor Ftz-f1, homologous to the human Steroidogenic Factor 1, SF-1. The regulation of hormonal synthesis is a crucial step that determines animal viability and size. This novel function of SUMOylation is conserved in several tissues in different organisms. To investigate more in detail the function of the ubiquitin-likes, we are developing new molecular tools to isolate and identify proteins modified by SUMO and other Ubiquitin-like modifiers in human cells and in model systems, such is Drosophila. We generated a versatile, highly specific, easy-to-use toolbox composed of vectors useful to analyze the modification of a protein of interest or to identify modified sub-proteomes. Among the transcription factors regulated by SUMOylation, we are interested on the SPALT-Like (SALL) family of proteins, necessary for numerous biological processes. Mutations in SALL1 and SALL4 cause the rare diseases Townes-Brocks and Okihiro (Duane-Radial Ray) Syndromes, respectively, being also involved in the susceptibility to tumors. Patients might present dysplastic kidneys, supernumerary thumbs, malformed ears, sensorineural hearing loss and severe growth retardation. We are investigating the mechanism by which a truncated form of SALL1 causes the Townes-Brocks symptoms. We hypothesized that these are caused by the malfunctioning of primary cilia and we are currently performing the experiments necessary to prove this hypothesis. Primary fibroblasts derived from a Townes-Brocks patient, which exhibit mutation in the gene SALL1. The fibroblasts were kindly provided by Dr. Wilkie, Oxford, UK. Markers: Acetylated tubulin (red), F-actin (green), DNA (blue). Representation of SUMO evolution across species, with associated functional consequences in human, Blattella and Drosophila.

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Latest Publications

Structural insights into Siglec-15 reveal glycosylation dependency for its interaction with T cells through integrin CD11b

Lenza, MP; Egia-Mendikute, L; Antoñana-Vildosola, A; Soares, CO; Coelho, H; Corzana, F; Bosch, A; Manisha, P; Quintana, JI; Oyenarte, I; Unione, L; Moure, MJ; Azkargorta, M; Atxabal, U; Sobczak, ...

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS

2023-06-13

Studying the ubiquitin code through biotin-based labelling methods

Barroso-Gomila, O; Muratore, V; Merino-Cacho, L; Rodriguez, JA; Barrio, R; Sutherland, JD;

SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

2022-11-16

In memoriam: Huib Ovaa, the brain behind the formula (18/12/1973-19/05/2020)

Barrio, R; Rodriguez, MS;

SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

2022-11-16

U1A is a positive regulator of the expression of heterologous and cellular genes involved in cell proliferation and migration

Rovira, E; Moreno, B; Razquin, N; Hjerpe, R; Gonzalez-Lopez, M; Barrio, R; de los Mozos, IR; Ule, J; Pastor, F; Blazquez, L; Fortes, P;

MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS

2022-05-25

Editorial: 17th Spanish Society for Developmental Biology Meeting: New Trends in Developmental Biology

Araujo, SJ; Barrio, R;

FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

2022-04-20

Origin and Development of the Adipose Tissue, a Key Organ in Physiology and Disease

Parra-Peralbo, E; Talamillo, A; Barrio, R;

FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

2021-12-21

A Genotyped Case of Townes-Brocks Syndrome with Absent Pulmonary Valve Syndrome from Turkey

Ilhan, O; Gumus, E; Hakan, N; Istar, H; Harmandar, B; Olgun, H; Karakus, SC; Cullu, N; Kohlhase, J; Sutherland, JD; Barrio, R;

JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC GENETICS

2021-12-10

Identification of proximal SUMO-dependent interactors using SUMO-ID

Barroso-Gomila, O; Trulsson, F; Muratore, V; Canosa, I; Merino-Cacho, L; Cortazar, AR; Pérez, C; Azkargorta, M; Iloro, I; Carracedo, A; Aransay, AM; Elortza, F; Mayor, U; Vertegaal, ACO; Barrio, ...

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS

2021-11-18

NEDDYLATION INHIBITION REDUCES LIVER STEATOSIS IN MAFLD MICE MODELS BY PROMOTING HEPATIC FATTY ACID OXIDATION VIA DEPTOR-mTOR AXIS

Serrano-Maciá, M; Espinosa, JS; González-Rellan, MJ; Azkargorta, M; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Lopitz-Otsoa, F; De Urturi, DS; Agudo, RR; Lachiondo-Ortega, S; Mercado-Gómez, M; Bizkarguenaga, ...

HEPATOLOGY

2021-10-01

SALL1 Modulates CBX4 Stability, Nuclear Bodies, and Regulation of Target Genes

Giordano, I; Pirone, L; Muratore, V; Landaluze, E; Pérez, C; Lang, V; Garde-Lapido, E; Gonzalez-Lopez, M; Barroso-Gomila, O; Vertegaal, ACO; Aransay, AM; Rodriguez, JA; Rodriguez, MS; Sutherland, ...

FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

2021-09-21

Neddylation inhibition ameliorates steatosis in NAFLD by boosting hepatic fatty acid oxidation via the DEPTOR-mTOR axis

Serrano-Maciá, M; Simón, J; González-Rellan, MJ; Azkargorta, M; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Lopitz-Otsoa, F; De Urturi, DS; Rodríguez-Agudo, R; Lachiondo-Ortega, S; Mercado-Gomez, M; de Juan, ...

MOLECULAR METABOLISM

2021-07-13

LUZP1 Controls Cell Division, Migration and Invasion Through Regulation of the Actin Cytoskeleton

Bozal-Basterra, L; Gonzalez-Santamarta, M; Muratore, V; Martín-Martín, N; Ercilla, A; Rodríguez, JA; Carracedo, A; Sutherland, JD; Barrio, R;

FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

2021-04-01

Virtual meeting, real and sound science: report of the 17th Meeting of the Spanish Society for Developmental Biology (SEBD-2020) Virtual Meeting. 18th to 20th November 2020 .

Araújo, SJ; Almudi, I; Bozal-Basterra, L; Casares, F; Casas-Tintó, S; Escalante, A; Garcia-Moreno, F; Losada-Pérez, M; Maeso, I; Marcon, L; Ocaña, OH; Pampliega, O; Rada-Iglesias, A; Rayon, ...

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

2021-01-01

Multi-Omics Integration Highlights the Role of Ubiquitination in CCl4-Induced Liver Fibrosis

Mercado-Gómez, M; Lopitz-Otsoa, F; Azkargorta, M; Serrano-Maci, M; Lachiondo-Ortega, S; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Rodríguez-Agudo, R; Fernández-Ramos, D; Bizkarguenaga, M; Gutiérrez-de Juan, ...

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES

2020-12-01

HuR/ELAVL1 drives malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor growth and metastasis

Palomo-Irigoyen, M; Pérez-Andrés, E; Iruarrizaga-Lejarreta, M; Barreira-Manrique, A; Tamayo-Caro, M; Vila-Vecilla, L; Moreno-Cugnon, L; Beitia, N; Medrano, D; Fernández-Ramos, D; Lozano, JJ; ...

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION

2020-07-01

LUZP1, a novel regulator of primary cilia and the actin cytoskeleton, is a contributing factor in Townes-Brocks Syndrome

Bozal-Basterra, L; Gonzalez-Santamarta, M; Muratore, V; Bermejo-Arteagabeitia, A; Da Fonseca, C; Barroso-Gomila, O; Azkargorta, M; Iloro, I; Pampliega, O; Andrade, R; Martín-Martín, N; Branon, ...

ELIFE

2020-06-18

Genetic manipulation of LKB1 elicits lethal metastatic prostate cancer

Hermanova, I; Zúñiga-García, P; Caro-Maldonado, A; Fernandez-Ruiz, S; Salvador, F; Martín-Martín, N; Zabala-Letona, A; Nuñez-Olle, M; Torrano, V; Camacho, L; Lizcano, JM; Talamillo, A; Carreira, ...

JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE

2020-06-01

SUMOylation in the control of cholesterol homeostasis

Talamillo, A; Ajuria, L; Grillo, M; Barroso-Gomila, O; Mayor, U; Barrio, R;

OPEN BIOLOGY

2020-05-06

The role of SUMOylation during development

Talamillo, A; Barroso-Gomila, O; Giordano, I; Ajuria, L; Grillo, M; Mayor, U; Barrio, R;

BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS

2020-04-01

Targeting PML in triple negative breast cancer elicits growth suppression and senescence

Arreal, L; Piva, M; Fernandez, S; Revandkar, A; Clerigué, AS; Villanueva, J; Zabala-Letona, A; Pujana, M; Astobiza, I; Cortazar, AR; Hermanova, I; Bozal-Basterra, L; Arruabarrena-Aristorena, ...

CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION

2020-04-01