SOSA, Lucas

Assistant Researcher CONICET / Assistant Professor UNC
Director: Dr. Santiago Quiroga
Phone: +54-351-5353855 int 3462
E-mail: lucas@fcq.unc.edu.ar

Research Topic

The physiological role of the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) as an adhesion molecule in the developing nervous system

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein that is better known for its participation in the physiopathology of Alzheimer disease as the source of the amyloid beta fragment. Also APP, encoded in the chromosome 21 is overexpress in Down syndrome and thus may contribute to the Down syndrome associated intellectual disability. However the physiological function of the full length protein and its proteolytic fragments are still under extensive studies. APP was first described as a cell-surface receptor and in the last years a series of new evidence highlight APP as a cell adhesion molecule. My lab is focus in the physiological role of APP as cell adhesion molecule involved in the different steps of neurodevelopment such as neuronal migration, neurite outgrowth, growth cone pathfinding and synaptogenesis. Also my project is approach to the potential early implication of the disturbed adhesion properties of APP during neurodevelopment in Down syndrome and the physiopathology of Alzheimer disease.

Selected Publications

• Laurino, X. X. Wang, B. A. de la Houssaye, L. Soda, S. Dupraz, A. Caceres, K. H. Pfenninger, and S. Quiroga. 2005. PI3K activation by IGF-1 is essential for the regulation of membrane expansion at the nerve growth cone. J Cell Sci 118:3653-3662.
• Soda, S. Dupraz, L. Laurino, F. La Costa, M. Bisbal, A. Caceres, K. H. Pfenninger, and S. Quiroga. 2006. IGF-1 receptor is essential for the establishment of hippocampal neuronal polarity. Nat Neurosci 9:993-995.
• Dupraz, D. Grassi, M. E. Bernis, L. Soda, M. Bisbal, L. Gastaldi, I. Jausoro, A. Caceres, K. H. Pfenninger, and S. Quiroga. 2009. The TC10-Exo70 complex is essential for membrane expansion and axonal specification in developing neurons. J Neurosci 29:13292-13301.
• J. Soda, J. Bergman, A. Road-Bernal, T. J. Glorioso, J. M. Kittelson, and K. H. Pfenninger. 2013. Amyloid precursor protein is an autonomous growth cone adhesion molecule engaged in contact guidance. PLoS One 8:e64521.
• J. Soda, N. L. Postma, A. Road-Bernal, M. Hanna, R. Guo, J. Busciglio, and K. H. Pfenninger. 2014. Dosage of amyloid precursor protein affects axonal contact guidance in Down syndrome. FASEB J 28:195-205.

(See more publications-CONICET)

Current Grants

• Grant from National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion (FONCYT-PRH-PIDRI-2013-0020)
• Grant from National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion (FONCYT-PICT 2014- 2331)

Brief CV

Academic Formation

• 2003-Graduated in Doctor of Medicine (M.D.). Faculty of Medical Sciences (National University of Córdoba). Average: 9.08 (nine with 08/100) (Scale of calification 0-10).
• 2007-Ph.D. Doctorate in Chemistry, from the National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET) at CIQUIBIC-CONICET, Faculty of Chemical Sciences (National University of Córdoba). Thesis title: “Participation of the βgc-IGF-1 receptor in the initial establishment of hippocampal neuronal polarity”. Advisor: Prof. Dr. Santiago Quiroga.

Research Background

• Post-doctoral position at Department of Pediatrics and Colorado Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA (June 2008 to July 2013). Advisor: Prof. Dr. Karl Pfenninger.
• Post-doctoral position in the School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplantation at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Aurora-Colorado, USA (August 2013 to November 2013). Advisor: Prof. Dr. Jorge Di Paola.
• Post-doctoral position from the National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET) at CIQUIBIC-CONICET, Faculty of Chemical Sciences (National University of Córdoba), Córdoba (X5000HUA), Argentina. (2013-2015).
• Research Assistant position from the National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET) at CIQUIBIC-CONICET

Teaching Background

• Assistant professor at the College of Chemical Sciences-National University of Córdoba-Argentina