Enrique Cadenas Professor Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology School of Pharmacy Keck School of Medicine

Education:
MD 1974 Medicine - University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
PhD 1977 Biochemistry - University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship:
1978-1980 University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Johnson Research Foundation

Started at USC: 1989

Research Topics: Signal Transduction, Toxicology

Research Description

The anomalous regulation of apoptosis has been recognized as a pathological process that occurs in a variety of conditions comprising neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders, and various cancers. We are interested in elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying cell signaling pathways inherent in mitochondrion-dependent apoptosis and with implications for neurodegenerative- and age-related disorders. Ongoing research projects within these long-term goals are: (a) the study of the potential biological role of mitochondria as an important cellular target of pro-apoptotic JNK signalling involving modulation of Bcl-2 family members; (b) the regulation of mitochondrial functions by nitric oxide and the mitochondrial nitric oxide synthase and how they impinge on the cellular redox state; (c) analysis of the mitochondrial proteome for post-translational modifications caused by JNK activity and exposure to oxidative and nitrosative stress; (d) the analysis of the mechanism of actions of neuroprotective agents in terms of preserving mitochondrion functional integrity through activation of ligand-independent signaling pathways and universal transcription factors.

Selected Publications

Galli S, Antico Arciuch VG, Poderoso C, Converso DP, Zhou Q, Bal de Kier Joffe E, Cadenas E, Boczkowski J, Carreras MC, Poderoso JJ. - Tumor cell phenotype is sustained by selective MAPK oxidation in mitochondria. - PLoS ONE [ 2008 ] Jun 11;3(6):e2379 . PubMed

Irwin RW, Yao J, Hamilton RT, Cadenas E, Brinton RD, Nilsen J. - Progesterone and estrogen regulate oxidative metabolism in brain mitochondria. - Endocrinology [ 2008 ] Jun;149(6):3167-75 . PubMed

Packer L, Cadenas E, Davies KJ. - Free radicals and exercise: an introduction. - Free Radic Biol Med [ 2008 ] Jan 15;44(2):123-5 . PubMed

Navarro A, López-Cepero JM, Bández MJ, Sánchez-Pino MJ, Gómez C, Cadenas E, Boveris A. - Hippocampal mitochondrial dysfunction in rat aging. - Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol [ 2008 ] Feb;294(2):R501-9 . PubMed

Zhou Q, Lam PY, Han D, Cadenas E. - c-Jun N-terminal kinase regulates mitochondrial bioenergetics by modulating pyruvate dehydrogenase activity in primary cortical neurons. - J Neurochem [ 2008 ] Jan;104(2):325-35 . PubMed

Packer L, Cadenas E. - Oxidants and antioxidants revisited. New concepts of oxidative stress. - Free Radic Res [ 2007 ] Sep;41(9):951-2 . PubMed

Antunes F, Boveris A, Cadenas E. - On the biologic role of the reaction of NO with oxidized cytochrome c oxidase. - Antioxid Redox Signal [ 2007 ] Oct;9(10):1569-79 . PubMed

Inarrea P, Moini H, Han D, Rettori D, Aguiló I, Alava MA, Iturralde M, Cadenas E. - Mitochondrial respiratory chain and thioredoxin reductase regulate intermembrane Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase activity: implications for mitochondrial energy metabolism and apoptosis. - Biochem J [ 2007 ] Jul 1;405(1):173-9 . PubMed

Hsiai TK, Hwang J, Barr ML, Correa A, Hamilton R, Alavi M, Rouhanizadeh M, Cadenas E, Hazen SL. - Hemodynamics influences vascular peroxynitrite formation: Implication for low-density lipoprotein apo-B-100 nitration. - Free Radic Biol Med [ 2007 ] Feb 15;42(4):519-29 . PubMed

Antunes F, Cadenas E. - The mechanism of cytochrome C oxidase inhibition by nitric oxide. - Front Biosci [ 2007 ] Jan 1;12:975-85 . PubMed