Daniel Martínez
@dmartimarti.bsky.social
Postdoctoral researcher at Cabreiro Lab. MRC/LMS. Imperial College London.
I'm full of microbes, so I study them. Or they study themselves using me. Who knows.
https://dmartimarti.github.io/
I'm full of microbes, so I study them. Or they study themselves using me. Who knows.
https://dmartimarti.github.io/
Yes, it matters! In collab with chemists at Newcastle University, we synthesized the pure bacterial form, it was more potent. Then we engineered a trimethyl ester version that was even more effective at stopping cancer cell growth. ⚗️
September 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Yes, it matters! In collab with chemists at Newcastle University, we synthesized the pure bacterial form, it was more potent. Then we engineered a trimethyl ester version that was even more effective at stopping cancer cell growth. ⚗️
A 2-MiCit - drug screening revealed that 2-MiCit synergises with nucleotide antimetabolites such as 5-FU! Proteomics revealed their joint effect greatly affects p53 and pyrimidine metabolism, and make HCT116 spheroids really struggle to grow.
September 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
A 2-MiCit - drug screening revealed that 2-MiCit synergises with nucleotide antimetabolites such as 5-FU! Proteomics revealed their joint effect greatly affects p53 and pyrimidine metabolism, and make HCT116 spheroids really struggle to grow.
How does 2-MiCit work? It hits the cell's mitochondria, impairing respiration. RNA-seq revealed this disrupts the cell cycle, DNA replication, and nucleotide metabolism. Crucially, it activates the p53 tumor suppressor pathway, which we confirmed with @alexisbarr.bsky.social
September 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
How does 2-MiCit work? It hits the cell's mitochondria, impairing respiration. RNA-seq revealed this disrupts the cell cycle, DNA replication, and nucleotide metabolism. Crucially, it activates the p53 tumor suppressor pathway, which we confirmed with @alexisbarr.bsky.social
We found 2-MiCit powerfully inhibits proliferation across 20 cancer cell lines and shrinks 3D tumor spheroids. In a fly model of colon cancer (thanks @cochemelab.bsky.social !), 2-MiCit treatment reduced tumor spread and extended the flies' lifespan!
September 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
We found 2-MiCit powerfully inhibits proliferation across 20 cancer cell lines and shrinks 3D tumor spheroids. In a fly model of colon cancer (thanks @cochemelab.bsky.social !), 2-MiCit treatment reduced tumor spread and extended the flies' lifespan!
So, is this bacterial metabolite relevant in humans? With help from @kaletalab.bsky.social we predicted its production is significantly higher in the gut microbiomes of colorectal cancer patients. It is also present in cancer-associated microbiomes.
What does it actually do to cancer cells?
What does it actually do to cancer cells?
September 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
So, is this bacterial metabolite relevant in humans? With help from @kaletalab.bsky.social we predicted its production is significantly higher in the gut microbiomes of colorectal cancer patients. It is also present in cancer-associated microbiomes.
What does it actually do to cancer cells?
What does it actually do to cancer cells?
A gene-nutrient screen pointed to a key mechanism: metabolic rewiring downstream of pyruvate, affecting the TCA. After many more experiments using C. elegans one culprit emerged: 2-MiCit, a metabolite from the bacterial methylcitrate cycle! 🎯
September 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
A gene-nutrient screen pointed to a key mechanism: metabolic rewiring downstream of pyruvate, affecting the TCA. After many more experiments using C. elegans one culprit emerged: 2-MiCit, a metabolite from the bacterial methylcitrate cycle! 🎯
Using a 4-way screening (bacteria + worm + drug + nutrient) we observed that sugars were able to impair 5-FU activity in C. elegans when fed with the the salvage pathway triple mutant, a super resistant strain for 5-FU effects.
September 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Using a 4-way screening (bacteria + worm + drug + nutrient) we observed that sugars were able to impair 5-FU activity in C. elegans when fed with the the salvage pathway triple mutant, a super resistant strain for 5-FU effects.
We started with a basic question: how does nutrition affect the drug 5-FU? Using C. elegans & E. coli we saw the drug's effect drastically changed depending on the bacterial strain and the nutrients in their environment! We tested >70 different E. coli strains that further confirmed this! 🧪
September 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
We started with a basic question: how does nutrition affect the drug 5-FU? Using C. elegans & E. coli we saw the drug's effect drastically changed depending on the bacterial strain and the nutrients in their environment! We tested >70 different E. coli strains that further confirmed this! 🧪