Marcelo Bonini, PhD

Breast cancer metabolism and metastasis, Epigenetics, Histones, Histone Oxidation, Redox Biology.

Associations

• Metabolism and Physiology
• Cancer Biology & Evolution Program

Our lab is interested in the mechanisms connecting the decline of the energetic metabolism that occurs during aging with aging-related diseases being cancer a prime example. We focus on how a switch in the functioning of mitochondria to promote reactive oxygen species production over ATP changes the biophysical microenvironment of the cell with particular emphasis in the nucleus. We also aim at determining how these metabolic changes impact chromatin structure and gene expression. Our hypothesis is that reactive metabolites including, but not limited to reactive oxygen species, chemically modify chromatin components that provide it with specific structural patterns. These include histones, lamins, lncRNA and DNA itself. Since chromatin structure regulates gene accessibility and transcription efficiency our work postulates that changes in metabolism establish the biophysical environment where transcription happens. With that in mind we aim at developing therapeutic strategies to mitigate the effects of these metabolites on chromatin (chromatin protective agents) to improve cancer clinical care.

Clinical Trial 50521
Integrated Plasma Metabolomic and Cytokine Profiling to Characterize Cancer Cachexia
Condition: Thoracic
Status: Open

If you believe you are eligible for one of these trials or studies, please call
813-745-6100 or toll-free 1-800-679-0775.

• Title: A redox-sensitive switch in the macrophage nucleus regulates acute phase inflammatory injury
  Award Number: 7R01HL163820-04
  Sponsor: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
  Bonini, M. (PD/PI)
• Title: Suppression of progesterone receptor signaling by heavy metals promotes tamoxifen resistance and metastasis or ER+ breast cancer
  Award Number: 7R01ES035353
  Sponsor: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
  Bonini, M. (PD/PI)
• Title: H3 histone oxidation is a new posttranslational modification linking heavy metal-induced metabolic changes and oncegenic epigenetic reprogramming
  Award Number: 7R01ES035723-03
  Sponsor: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
  Bonini, M. (PD/PI)
• Title: Every Day Counts: A lifestyle program for women with metastatic breast cancer
  Award Number: 5R01CA258759-04
  Sponsor: Medical College of Wisconsin
  Bonini, M. (PD/PI)