Docente
Marta S. P. Carepo

Resume

I graduated in Biochemistry by Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa and finished my PhD in Biochemistry-Biotechnology, in 2002 at NOVA School of Science and Technology (FCT NOVA), under the supervision of Prof. José J.G.Moura. During my PhD, I spent a period at the Northwestern University under the supervision of Prof. Brian Hoffman. My thesis was focused on the structural and functional characterization of [Ni-Fe] Hydrogenases and have used several spectroscopic techniques like UV-visible, EPR and ENDOR. My first post-doc was at Federal University of Pará-Brazil (Genetic Department-2003-2005) in the group of Prof. M. Paula Schneider. During this time, I developed studies in structural genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics, providing a more global approach that complemented the spectroscopist perspective. During this time, I worked with the Brazilian National Genome Project Consortium on the functional genomics of Chromobacterium violaceum and Mycoplasma synoviae. This fruitful collaboration with Paula Schneider continued beyond the post-doc and resulted in 13 papers-371 citations and a Transnational Cooperation Project, Portugal-Brazil, with me as Portuguese PI. In 2007, I was awarded an Assistant Researcher position at FCT NOVA. I have developed my own research projects, mostly related with biochemical characterization of Metalloproteins or with systems involved in heavy metal detoxification by bacteria. I have used several biochemical, spectroscopic, and biophysical techniques and collaborated in several proteomic and transcriptomic studies. From 2014-2017, I was awarded a Grant as PI (involving self-payment, research money and associated fellowships) to work at Federal University of Ceará (UFC-Brazil) by CAPES. At UFC, I started a collaboration with Prof. Eduardo Sousa in the biochemical and spectroscopic characterization (CD, DLS and fluorescence) of oxygen heme sensor proteins from Rhizobium etli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. During this time, I started a parallel interest in the study of the mechanism of action of metallodrugs in biomolecules, like the formation of ROS (performing DNA cleavage assays and EPR studies). Currently I am associated Professor at Universidade Lusófona and Director of the Biochemistry degree. I am also Researcher at LAQV, REQUIMTE (Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry-LAQV of the Network of Chemistry and Technology (REQUIMTE)) at FCT NOVA. I continued my work on the functional characterization of metalloproteins with importance in health or involved in environmental detoxification. During my scientific career I have supervised 3 PhD (currently 1), 6 Masters (currently 2), 4 students from international students exchange programs, 5 students with Scientific initiation grants and 14 undergraduate students. I have experience in evaluation Juries (for Graduation, Master and PhD academic degrees; grants and fellowships' calls) and I am also member of Examination Board for students over 23 Years old applying for University at Lusófona University. I have 45 publications (40 peer-reviewed papers, 2 Book Chapters, 1 conference paper and 3 magazine papers), 11 conference abstracts and more than 60 communications in scientific meetings. I have an h=15 (Scopus) or h=17 (Google Schoolar, hi10=21), citations: 891 (Scopus) and 1262 (GoogleSchoolar). I have received grants as PI from two different Agencies (FCT and CAPES) in two different countries (Portugal and Brazil) and I am also currently a team member in active R&D Projects. I am also involved in annually public displays for science dissemination to the overall public.

Graus

• Doutoramento
  Biochemistry
• Licenciatura
  Biochemistry
• Doutoramento
  Bioquímica

Publicações

Magazine article

• 2024-01-05, Elogio da Desnitrificação, Boletim da Sociedade Portuguesa de Química
• 1998, Revealed a new metal cluster involved in Hydrogen production/consumption: a challenge to Chemistry and Biotechnology , Boletim de Biotecnologia
• 1997, Dihydrogen activation by nickel containing hydrogenase Biological inspiration for new organometallic catalysts. , Rev. Port. de Química

Journal article

• 2023-03, Incorporation of a molybdenum atom in a Rubredoxin-type Centre of a de novo-designed a3DIV-L21C three-helical bundle peptide, Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry
• 2021, Synergy of DNA intercalation and catalytic activity of a copper complex towards improved polymerase inhibition and cancer cell cytotoxicity, Dalton Transactions
• 2020-11, Nitrate-nitrite fate and oxygen sensing in dormant Mycobacterium tuberculosis: A bioinorganic approach highlighting the importance of transition metals, Coordination Chemistry Reviews
• 2019-07-11, A spectroelectrochemical investigation of the heme-based sensor DevS from Mycobacterium tuberculosis : a redox versus oxygen sensor, The FEBS Journal
• 2019-05, Source and reduction of nitrous oxide, Coordination Chemistry Reviews
• 2019-05, Ligand accessibility to heme cytochrome b5 coordinating sphere and enzymatic activity enhancement upon tyrosine ionization, JBIC Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry
• 2019, Fluorescence anisotropy of fluorescein derivative varies according to pH: Lessons for binding studies, Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry
• 2019, Effect of Crotalus basiliscus snake venom on the redox reaction of myoglobin, Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry
• 2019, Ascorbyl and hydroxyl radical generation mediated by a copper complex adsorbed on gold, Dalton Transactions
• 2018-06, Magnetic nanoparticles as a support for a copper (II) complex with nuclease activity., Journal of inorganic biochemistry
• 2018-05, Structural and functional characterization of the acid and alkaline transition of cytochrome b5, Free Radical Biology and Medicine
• 2018-05, Small phospho-donors phosphorylate MorR without inducing protein conformational changes., Biophysical chemistry
• 2018, Structural and functional characterization of the acid and alkaline transition of cytochrome b5, Free Radical Biology and Medicine
• 2017, The Orange Protein Complex - Novel Fe-S proteins from sulfate reducing bacteria, Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry
• 2017, Corresponding Author. Insights into signal transduction by a hybrid FixL: Denaturation study of on and off states of a multi-domain oxygen sensor, Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry
• 2016, The Heme-Based Oxygen Sensor Rhizobium etli FixL: Influence of Auxiliary Ligands on Heme Redox Potential and Implications on the Enzyme Activity, Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry
• 2016, Resonance assignment of DVU2108 that is part of the Orange Protein complex in Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, Biomolecular NMR Assignments
• 2016, Reconstruction of the Fatty Acid Biosynthetic Pathway of Exiguobacterium antarcticum B7 Based on Genomic and Bibliomic Data, BioMed Research International
• 2016, Hydroxyl Radical Generation and DNA Nuclease Activity: A Mechanistic Study Based on a Surface-Immobilized Copper Thioether Clip-Phen Derivative, Chemistry - A European Journal
• 2016, Corresponding Author. Orange protein from Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20: Insights into the Mo-Cu cluster protein-assisted synthesis, Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry
• 2016, Corresponding Author. De novo synthesis of fatty acids is regulated by FapR protein in Exiguobacterium antarcticum B7, a psychrotrophic bacterium isolated from Antarctica, BMC Research Notes
• 2015, Incorporation of molybdenum in rubredoxin: models for mononuclear molybdenum enzymes, Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry
• 2015, Exposure to an extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field only slightly modifies the proteome of Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472, Genetics and Molecular Biology
• 2014, Omics profiles used to evaluate the gene expression of Exiguobacterium antarcticum B7 during cold adaptation, BMC Genomics
• 2014, Mo-Cu metal cluster formation and binding in an orange protein isolated from Desulfovibrio gigas Topical Issue in honor of Ivano Bertini. Guest editors: Lucia Banci, Claudio Luchinat, Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry
• 2014, Corresponding Author. ArsC3 from Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20, a cation and sulfate-independent highly efficient arsenate reductase, Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry
• 2013, Vestigialization of arsenic resistance phenotypes/genotypes in Chromobacterium violaceum strains thriving in pristine Brazilian sites, Biocatalysis and Biotransformation
• 2013, Rearrangement of Mo-Cu-S cluster reflects the structural instability of orange protein cofactor, Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie
• 2013, Chromobacterium violaceum: Important insights for virulence and biotechnological potential by exoproteomic studies, Current Microbiology
• 2012, Proteomic response to arsenic stress in chromobacterium violaceum, Journal of Integrated OMICS
• 2012, Genome sequence of Exiguobacterium antarcticum B7, isolated from a biofilm in Ginger Lake, King George Island, Antarctica, Journal of Bacteriology
• 2011, Structural redox control in a 7Fe ferredoxin isolated from Desulfovibrio alaskensis, Bioelectrochemistry
• 2011, Proteomics analysis of the effects of cyanate on chromobacterium violaceum metabolism, Genes
• 2009, Isolation and characterization of a new Cu-Fe protein from Desulfovibrio aminophilus DSM12254, Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry
• 2009, Corresponding Author. Molybdenum Induces the Expression of a Protein Containing a New Heterometallic Mo-Fe Cluster in Desulfovibrio alaskensis, Biochemistry
• 2008, Gene expression of the arsenic resistance operon in Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472, Canadian Journal of Microbiology
• 2007, NMR assignment of the apo-form of a Desulfovibrio gigas protein containing a novel Mo-Cu cluster, Biomolecular NMR Assignments
• 2005, Swine and poultry pathogens: The complete genome sequences of two strains of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and a strain of Mycoplasma synoviae, Journal of Bacteriology
• 2004, Identification of Chromobacterium violaceum genes with potential biotechnological application in environmental detoxification, Genetics and Molecular Research
• 2002, Hydrogen metabolism in Desulfovibrio desulfuricans strain New Jersey (NCIMB 8313) - Comparative study with D. vulgaris and D. gigas species, Anaerobe
• 2001-12-19, 17O ENDOR Detection of a Solvent-Derived Ni-(OHx)-Fe Bridge That Is Lost upon Activation of the Hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio gigas, Journal of the American Chemical Society
• 1998-04, Isolation and Characterisation of a Novel Sulphate-reducing Bacterium of the Desulfovibrio Genus, Anaerobe
• 1997, Fe-57 Q-band pulsed ENDOR of the hetero-dinuclear site of nickel hydrogenase: Comparison of the NiA, NiB, and NiC states, Journal of the American Chemical Society

Book chapter

• 2023, Iron-sulfur clusters – functions of an ancient metal site, Comprehensive Inorganic Chemistry III, Elsevier
• 2020, 5. The Tetranuclear Copper-Sulfide Center of Nitrous Oxide Reductase, Transition Metals and Sulfur – A Strong Relationship for Life, De Gruyter

Conference paper

• 2016, The application of low angle light scattering to evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively the dynamics of formation of oligomers in heme protein sensors, SPIE BiOS

Conference abstract

• 2023-07-24, Characterization of a small cytochrome c from Wolinella succinogenes a putative electron donor of Clade II cytochrome c N2O reductase, XXVIII Encontro Nacional da Sociedade Portuguesa de Química (XXVIII National Meeting of the Portuguese Chemistry Society)
• 2021, Effect of low pH in the denitrification pathway and nitrous oxide reductase. Oral communication by S.R. Pauleta, MicroBiotec21
• 2018, Arsenate Reductase from Desulfovibrio alaskensis - Structural Insights and Interaction with Trx. Oral communication by S.R. Pauleta, VIII Ibero-American NMR Meeting
• 2017, The Orange Protein Complex - Novel Fe-S proteins from sulfate reducing bacteria. Oral communication by S.R. Pauleta, ICBIC-18
• 2017, The Orange Protein Complex - Novel Fe-S proteins from sulfate reducing bacteria, J. Biol. Inorg. Chem
• 2014, Metal substituted rubredoxins: a sulfur rich coordination site as models for metalloenzymes, J. Biol. Inorg. Chem
• 2011, Arsenic detoxification mechanism in Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G20, Febs Journal-36th FEBS Congress of the Biochemistry for Tomorrows Medicine - Torino, Italy
• 2011, Identification of regulator and putative sensor proteins involved in Molybdenum two component systems is sulfate reducing bacteria, Febs Journal-36th FEBS Congress of the Biochemistry for Tomorrows Medicine - Torino, Italy
• 2009, The NMR structure of a novel protein containing a new heterometallic molybdenum-copper cluster, J. Biol. Inorg. Chem.
• 2007, Orange proteins from Desulfovibrio gigas and Desulfovibrio alaskensis, J. Biol. Inorg. Chem
• 2004, The mitochondrial genome of the white-throated capuchin, Folia Primatol
• 1999, Purification and biochemical characterization of a new molybdenum containing protein from Desulfovibrio gigas, J. of Inorg. Biochem.

Conference poster

• 2022, Marta S.P. Carepo has more than 60 posters presented in Scientific Meetings
• 2021-10-22, Interaction between Neisseria bacterial peroxidase and cytochrome c2, IV International Conference NOVAhealth Chronic Disease and Infection - ¿Microbiota and Health
• 2021-10-22, Interaction between Neisseria bacterial peroxidase and cytochrome c., IV International Conference NOVAhealth Chronic Disease and Infection
• 2021-09-08, A structural model for the Mo-bis PDG enzymes: a de novo-designed Mo-a3DIV-L21C three-helix bundle peptide harboring a rubredoxin-type centre, Perspectives in Bionergetics 2021
• 2019-09-11, Biochemical characterization of Neisseria gonorrhoeae cytochrome c2 involved in hydrogen peroxide detoxification and denitrification, 24th European Nitrogen Cycle Meeting
• 2019-07-24, Incorporation of Molybdenum atom in a Rubredoxin-Type Centre of a de Novo Designed a3-DIV-L21C Three Helix Bundle Peptide, XXVI Encontro Nacional da Sociedade Portuguesa de Química
• 2008-09-02, EUROBIC9 2-6 September, 2008, 9th European Biological Inorganic Chemistry Conference

Other output

• 2022-09-30, Participation in the Science Awareness Action 'European Researchers' Night', Lisbon, 2022, Participation in the Science Awareness Action 'European Researchers' Night', Lisbon, 2022, held at Museu Nacional da História Natural, Lisboa; Responsible for the Activity: 'What is Green Hydrogen? How to produce hydrogen electrochemically and biologically by enzymes?'