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Stavroula  Mili, Ph.D.

Stavroula Mili, Ph.D.

  • Center for Cancer Research
  • National Cancer Institute

RESEARCH SUMMARY

Our research program focuses on the roles of localized RNAs in mammalian physiology. Our work spearheaded the study of RNAs targeted to protrusive regions of cells and established that protrusion localized mRNAs are functionally important during cell migration and cancer cell invasion. This mRNA localization mechanism is further linked to physiologically and clinically relevant processes since it occurs in vivo and is deregulated by pathogenic mutations. We use a variety of approaches including single-molecule RNA imaging in fixed and live cells, bioengineering methods as well as 3D and in vivo models. Our goal is to understand the molecular regulation, functional consequences and disease associations of localized RNAs.

Areas of Expertise

RNA Localization
Cell Migration
RNA Granules
Modified Microtubules
Local Translation

Publications

Selected Recent Publications

Collective cancer cell invasion requires RNA accumulation at the invasive front

Chrisafis G, Wang T, Moissoglu K, Gasparski AN,Ng Y, Weigert R, Lockett SJ, Mili S.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A . . 117(44): 27423-27434, 2020. [ Journal Article ]

RNA localization and co-translational interactions control RAB13 GTPase function and cell migration

Moissoglu K, Stueland M, Gasparski AN, Wang T, Jenkins LM, Hastings LM, Mili S.
EMBO Journal. 39(21): e104958, 2020. [ Journal Article ]

Translational regulation of protrusion-localized RNAs involves silencing and clustering after transport

Moissoglu K, Yasuda K, Wang T, Chrisafis G, Mili S.
eLife. 8: e44752, 2019. [ Journal Article ]

Extracellular matrix stiffness and cell contractility control RNA localization to promote cell migration

Wang T, Hamilla S, Cam M, Aranda-Espinoza H, Mili S.
Nat Commun. 8(1): 896, 2017. [ Journal Article ]

FUS inclusions disrupt RNA localization by sequestering kinesin-1 and inhibiting microtubule detyrosination

Yasuda K, Clatterbuck-Soper SF, Jackrel ME, Shorter J, Mili S.
J Cell Biol.. 216(4): 1015-1034, 2017. [ Journal Article ]

Job Vacancies

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Team

Research Fellow
Konstadinos Moissoglu, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow (CRTA)
Alexander N. Gasparski, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow (CRTA)
Devon E. Mason, Ph.D
Predoctoral Fellow (Graduate Student)
Rebecca A. Moriarty
Research Biologist
Tianhong Wang, Ph.D.

News

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