Dr Eleni Georgatsou Assistant Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Tel. 2410 685581 e-mail: egeorgat@med.uth.gr

Studies:

• Diploma in Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
• D.E.A (Diplôme d’études aprofondies) in Biochemistry (option: molecular biology and development of eukaryotic organisms). Universite ParisVII, Paris, France.
• Thése de doctorat in Biochemistry (option: molecular biology and development of eukaryotic organisms). Universite ParisVII, Paris, France.
• Post-doctoral student, Laboratory of Yeast Genetics, IMBB (Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology) Crete, Grece.

Present Position: Assistant Proffessor of Biochemistry-Molecular Biology

Research interests:

A.The cellular response to hypoxia and more specifically the structure-function relationship of the Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 HIF-1, via its molecular interactions.
Transcription factor HIF-1 has been increasingly drawing scientific interest, since its expression is directly related with bad prognosis in many cancers and its repression a target of many pharmaceutical approaches. In the Laboratory of Biochemistry, we have used the two hybrid system to isolate HIF-1α-interacting proteins. For one of them (MgcRacGAP-involved in cytoskeleton organization and mitosis), we have shown that it represses HIF-1 activity when overexpressed. The biological role of the interaction is under investigation, as well as the structural basis of the binding of the two proteins. Finally, the molecular interaction of HIF-1α with novel proteins is under study.

B.The function of the SR protein kinases SRPK1/1a and more specifically the biological significance of their interaction with the nuclear matrix proteins SAFB1/2.
In the Laboratory of Biochemistry we have used the two hybrid system to determine the SRPK/SAFB interaction. Consequently we have shown that the SAFB1/2 factors repress SRPK1/1a activity. The structural basis of the interactions as well as the biological significance of the inhibition of the kinase activity is under investigation

Selected publications:

Tsianou D, Nikolakaki E, Tzitzira A, Bonanou S., Giannakouros T. and E. Georgatsou (2009) The enzymatic activity of SR protein kinases 1 and 1a is negatively affected by interaction with scaffold attachment factors B1 and 2
FEBS J. 276, 5212-5227(pubmed)

Lyberopoulou Α., Venieris Ε., Mylonis I., Chachami G., Pappas I., Simos G., Bonanou S. and E. Georgatsou (2007) MgcRacGAP interacts with HIF-1α and regulates its transcriptional activity.
Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry 20, 995-1006.(pubmed)

Triantafyllou A., Liakos P., Tsakalof A., Chachami G., Paraskeva E., Molyvdas P.A., Georgatsou E., Simos G. and S. Bonanou (2007) The flavonoid quercetin induces HIF-1α expression and inhibits cell proliferation by depleting iron.
Free Radic Res 41, 342-56.(pubmed)

Mylonis I., Chachami G., Samiotaki M., Panayotou G., Paraskeva E., Kalousi A., Georgatsou E., Bonanou S. and G. Simos (2006) Identification of MAPK Phosphorylation Sites and Their Role in the Localization and Activity of Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1α.
J Biol Chem, 281, 33095-33106.(pubmed)

Triantafyllou A., Liakos P., Tsakalof A., Georgatsou E., Simos G. and S. Bonanou (2006) Cobalt induces hypoxia-inducible factor -1α (HIF-1α) in HeLa cells by an iron-independent, but ROS-, PI-3K- and MAPK - dependent mechanism.
Free Radic Res 40, 847-856.(pubmed)

Chachami G, Paraskeva E, Georgatsou E, Bonanou S and G. Simos (2005). Bacterially produced human HIF-1alpha is competent for heterodimerization and specific DNA-binding.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 331, 464-70.(pubmed)

Νikolokaki, E. Cohen, R., Hartman. A., Stamm, S., Georgatsou, E. and T. Giannakouros (2001). Cloning and characterization of an alternatively spliced form of SR protein kinase 1 that interacts specifically with Scaffold Attachment Factor-B.
J. Biol. Chem. 276, 40175-40182.(pubmed)

Georgatsou, E., Mavrogiannis, L., Frangiadakis, G.S. and D. Alexandraki (1997) The yeast Fre1p/Fre2p cupric reductases facilitate copper uptake and are regulated by the copper-modulated Mac1p activator.
J. Biol. Chem. 272, 13786-13792.(pubmed)

Georgatsou, E., and D. Alexandraki (1994) Two distinctly regulated genes are required for ferric reduction, the first step of iron uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Mol. Cell. Biol. 14, 3065-3073.(pubmed)

Georgatsou, E., Bourgarel, P., and T. Meo (1993) Male-specific expression of mouse sex-limited protein requires growth hormone, not testosterone.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90, 3626-3630.(pubmed)

Georgatsou, E., Georgakopoulos, T. and G. Thireos (1992) Molecular cloning of an essential yeast gene encoding a proteasomal subunit.
FEBS Letters 299, 39-43.(pubmed)

Academic Activity: See CV

CV short (.pdf)