Understanding the genomic programme of the human organism requires knowledge of how the information encoded in DNA is processed to generate messenger RNAs that can be translated into proteins, the building blocks of the different tissues in the body. In the cell, extensive modification and alternative processing of the initial products of gene transcription can profoundly affect the diversity and function of the proteins that are generated from a single gene. Our lab is interested in identifying mechanisms of mRNA biogenesis to better understand diseases caused by errors that affect these processes. Making use of a multidisciplinary approach that combines live-cell microscopy, computational modeling, molecular biology, biochemistry and bioinformatics, our group developed expertise to study how the dynamic properties of RNA-protein complexes contribute to post-transcriptional gene regulation.

Maria Carmo-Fonseca
MD (1983) and PhD in Cell Biology (1988), Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon
Post-doctoral research at EMBL (Heidelberg, Germany)
Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon Executive Director of the IMM since 2002
Awarded several prizes and honors including the Gulbenkian Science Award in 2007

2006/10 - EURASNET: European Alternative Splicing Network of Excellence. European Commission, FP6 (LSHG-CT-2005-518238). Participant: M. Carmo-Fonseca

 

2006/09 - Chromatin Plasticity. European Commission, FP6, Marie Curie Training Network (MRTN- CT-2006-035733). Participant: M. Carmo-Fonseca

 

2009/2010 - Transcription-coupled mechanisms of gene regulation (FCT-PTDC/BIA-BCM/101575/2008). PI: M. Carmo-Fonseca

 

2011/2013 - The role of RNA polymerase II in splicing regulation (FCT PTDC/SAU-GMG/113440/2009). PI: M. Carmo-Fonseca

 

2011/2013 - Splicing-coupled mechanisms of chromatin remodelling and their global role in transcription (FTC PTDC/BIA-BCM/111451/2009). PI: Sérgio de Almeida

 

During the past 5 years, the group participated in 8 European research networks, including 2 Marie Curie training networks and a European Network of Excellence on Alternative Splicing. Maria Carmo-Fonseca acted as Coordinator for 3 European research networks.

Carmo-Fonseca, M. Investigação Científica em Portugal na Área da Saúde. Journalists Seminars, Castelo de Bode, 2008
 
Carmo-Fonseca, M. "Ciência e Medicina" Public-oriented Conference at Escola Superior de Educação. Portalagre, 2007
 
Célia Carvalho, Joana Desterro, Margarida Gama-Carvalho, Noélia Custódio,Patrícia Calado and Teresa Carvalho have collaborated with CIENCIA VIVA on a Project entitled "DNA damage and repair: daily threats to our genome". The goal is to implement an experimental research project for biology students aged 8-10 years old ("Effects of sun exposure on your body - measuring UV irradiation") and 14-16 years old ("Mutagenic effects of environmental agents")
 
Gama-Carvalho, M. participated in the debate "Biologists and Philosophers think about cloning", "Biólogos e Filósofos pensam a clonagem". Escola Secundária Manuel Cargaleiro, Almada, 2005
 
Carmo-Fonseca, M. A Medicina na era pós-genómica. Seminars "Despertar para a Ciência 2004". Coimbra, 2004
 
Carmo-Fonseca, M. A Medicina na era pós-genómica. Seminars "Despertar para a Ciência 2004". Guarda, 2004
 
Carmo-Fonseca, M. debate about "Animals as models in biomedical research" in the school professores course "Inspirar Ciência", Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, 2004

 

2010 Prémio Pessoa awarded to M. Carmo Fonseca

 

2007 Gulbenkian Science Award 2007 (awarded to M. Carmo-Fonseca)
 

Braga J, Desterro JM, Carmo-Fonseca M (2004) Intracellular macromolecular mobility measured by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching with confocal laser scanning microscopes. Mol. Biol. Cell 15: 4749-4760. (Times cited: 85)

Desterro, J., Keegan, L., Lafarga, M., Berciano, M.T., O’Connell, M., and Carmo-Fonseca, M. (2003) Dynamic association of RNA editing enzymes with the nucleolus. J. Cell Sci. 116: 1805-1818. (Times cited: 63)

Calapez, A., Pereira, H.M., Calado, A., Braga, J., Rino, J., Carvalho, C., Tavanez, J.P., Wahle, E., Rosa, A.C., and Carmo-Fonseca, M. (2002) The intranuclear mobility of messenger RNA binding proteins is ATP-dependent and temperature-sensitive. J. Cell Biol. 159:795-805 (Times cited: 78)

Calado, A., Tomé, F.M.S., Brais, B., Rouleau, G.A., Kühn, U., Wahle, E., and Carmo-Fonseca, M. (2000) Nuclear inclusions in oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy consist of poly(A) binding protein 2 aggregates which sequester poly(A) RNA. Human Molecular Genetics 9:2321-2328. (Times cited: 118)

Custódio, N., Carmo-Fonseca, M., Geraghty, F., Pereira, H.S., Grosveld, F., Antoniou, M. (1999) Inefficient processing impairs release of RNA from the site of transcription. EMBO J. 18, 2855-2866. (Times cited: 145)