{"id":20523,"date":"2026-04-10T07:09:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T06:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cabd.es\/investigation\/departments\/regulacion-genica-y-morfogenesis\/dra-maria-dolores-lola-martin-bermudo\/"},"modified":"2026-11-03T11:41:23","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T10:41:23","slug":"dra-maria-dolores-lola-martin-bermudo","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cabd.es\/en\/investigation\/departments\/multicelular-dynamics\/dra-maria-dolores-lola-martin-bermudo\/","title":{"rendered":"Dra Maria Dolores (Lola) Mart\u00edn Bermudo"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Multicellular Dynamics<\/p>\n

Molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating epithelia morphogenesis and homeostasis<\/h1>\n

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Dra Maria Dolores (Lola) Mart\u00edn Bermudo<\/h4>\n

Principal Investigator<\/p>\n

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Summary<\/h2>\n
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MLAB<\/a><\/p>\n

1. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating epithelia morphogenesis and homeostasis<\/h5>\n

Our laboratory primarily focuses on 2 major research lines: (1) mechanisms underlying cell migration and invasion, and (2) contribution of cell\u2013ECM interactions to epithelial morphogenesis and homeostasis. We employ a multidisciplinary approach integrating genetics, transcriptomics, 4D imaging, biophysics, and computational analysis.
In the context of cell migration, we have shown that, beyond its classical role as a substrate, the ECM can regulate migration by exerting mechanical constraints on the 3D environment through which cells move (Molina et al.,\u00a0PLoS Biol<\/em>.<\/em>, 2023). Our group has also identified several novel regulators of Ras-driven cell invasion. These include EGRAP, a new EGFR negative regulator (Soler et al.,\u00a0PLoS Genetics<\/em>, 2021); the Tensin family (Mart\u00ednez-Abarca et al.,\u00a0Genes<\/em>, 2023); integrins (Mart\u00ednez-Abarca et al.,\u00a0Cancer<\/em>, 2024); and ECM components, such as laminins. Recently, we uncovered key regulators of the tumor-promoting crosstalk between epithelial tumor cells and adjacent mesodermal cells, which include regulators of zinc metabolism, the Hh signaling pathway members, and vesicle trafficking.
In relation to the role of cell\u2013ECM interactions in epithelial morphogenesis and homeostasis, we have shown that a balance between the mechanical forces generated by epithelial cells and those exerted by the ECM is essential for the cell shape changes driving organogenesis. This has been demonstrated in diverse model systems, including the egg chamber (Santa-Cruz et al.,\u00a0PLoS Genetics<\/em>, 2020; Hern\u00e1ndez-del Valle et al.,\u00a0BMC Biol.<\/em>, 2022), the embryonic tracheal system (Klubmann et al.,\u00a0Cell Reports<\/em>, 2022), and the wing (Valencia-Exp\u00f3sito et al.,\u00a0Front. Cell and Dev. Biol.<\/em>, 2022;\u00a0EMBO Journal<\/em>, 2025). We have also shown that cell\u2013ECM interactions regulate epithelial SC proliferation via modulation of Notch signaling (Rinc\u00f3n-Ortega et al.,\u00a0Front. Cell and Dev. Biol.,\u00a0<\/em>2023), and that the mechanical context determines integrin requirement in maintaining epithelial architecture.<\/span><\/p>\n

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I am a founder of the charity\u00a0DrosAfrica<\/strong>, with the mission of helping to set up an African research community using Drosophila as a model system for human diseases of interest in the area (see\u00a0http:\/\/drosafrica.org<\/a> for details).<\/p>\n

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Publications over the last 5 years<\/h2>\n
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MLAB<\/a><\/p>\n

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1.<\/strong><\/b> Santa-Cruz Mateos, C., <\/strong><\/b>Valencia-Exp\u00f3sito, A., <\/strong><\/b>Palacios, I.M. and<\/strong><\/b> Maria D. Martin-Bermudo<\/u><\/strong><\/b> (2020)<\/strong><\/b> Integrins regulate epithelia cell shape by controlling the architecture and mechanical properties of basal actomyosin networks. PLoS Genetics, 16 (6)<\/em>. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pgen.1008717<\/a>.

2. Soler Beatty, J., Molnar, C., Luque, C.M., de Celis J.F. and<\/strong><\/b> Martin-Bermudo, M.D.*<\/u><\/strong><\/b> (2021)<\/strong><\/b> EGFRAP<\/em> encodes a new negative regulator of the EGFR acting in both normal and oncogenic EGFR\/Ras-driven tissue morphogenesis. PLoS Genetics. Aug. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pgen.1009738<\/a>

3. <\/strong><\/b>Hern\u00e1ndez-del-Valle<\/strong><\/b>, M.,<\/strong><\/b> Valencia-Exp\u00f3sito<\/strong><\/b>, A.,<\/strong><\/b> L\u00f3pez-Izquierdo<\/strong><\/b>, A.,<\/strong><\/b> Casanova-Ferrer<\/strong><\/b>, P.,<\/strong><\/b> Tarazona<\/strong><\/b>, P.,<\/strong><\/b> Mart\u00edn-Bermudo<\/strong><\/b>, <\/strong><\/b>M. D., and <\/strong><\/b>M\u00edguez G\u00f3mez<\/strong><\/b>, D. (2022)<\/strong><\/b> A coarse-grained approach to model the dynamics of the actomyosin cortex. BMCB https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12915-022-01279-2<\/a>

4. Klu<\/strong><\/b>b<\/strong><\/b>mann-Fricke, B.J., Mart\u00edn-Bermudo, M.D.* and Llimargas, M.*<\/strong><\/b>. (2022)<\/strong><\/b> The Basement Membrane controls size and integrity of the Drosophila tracheal tubes. Cell Reports, 39. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.celrep.2022.110734<\/a>

5<\/strong><\/b>. Valencia-Exp\u00f3sito, <\/sup>A., G\u00f3mez-Lamarca, M.J., Widmann, T. and Mart\u00edn-Bermudo, M.D.<\/strong><\/b> <\/b>(2022)<\/strong><\/b> Integrins cooperate with the EGFR\/Ras pathway to promote epithelia survival and architecture in development and oncogenesis. Front. Cell Dev Biol., 13 June 2022. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fcell.2022.892691<\/a>

6. <\/strong><\/b>Rinc\u00f3n-Orteg<\/strong><\/b>a, L.<\/strong><\/b>, Valencia-Exp\u00f3sit<\/strong><\/b>o, A.<\/strong><\/b>, Kabanov<\/strong><\/b>a, A.<\/strong><\/b>, Gonz\u00e1lez-Reye<\/strong><\/b>s, A.<\/strong><\/b> *<\/sup><\/strong><\/b> and Mart\u00edn-Bermud<\/strong><\/b>o, M.D.*<\/strong><\/b> (2023)<\/strong><\/b> Integrins control epithelial stem cell proliferation in the Drosophila<\/em> ovary by modulating the Notch pathway. Front. Cell Dev Biol. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fcell.2023.1114458<\/a>

7<\/strong><\/b>. <\/strong><\/b>Molina L\u00f3pez, E., Kabanova, A., Winkel, A., Franze, K., Palacios I.M. and Mart\u00edn-Bermudo, M.D.<\/strong><\/b> (2023)<\/strong><\/b> Constriction forces imposed by basement membranes regulate developmental cell migration. PLoS Biology. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pbio.3002172<\/a>

8<\/strong><\/b>. <\/strong><\/b>Mart\u00ednez-Abarca Mill\u00e1n and Mart\u00edn-Bermudo, M.D. (2023)<\/strong><\/b> Integrins act as suppressors of Ras-mediated oncogenesis in Drosophila<\/em> models. Cancers, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/cancers15225432<\/a>.

9<\/strong><\/b>.<\/strong><\/b> Valencia-Exp\u00f3sito, A., Khalilgharibi, N., Mart\u00ednez-Abarca Mill\u00e1n, A, Mao, Y. and Mart\u00edn-Bermud<\/strong><\/b>o, M.D. (2025) <\/strong><\/b>Unravelling principles initiating epithelial basal folding: cell-ECM <\/b>lessening followed by an increase in basolateral contractility. The EMBO J., https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s44318-025-00384-6.<\/u><\/p>\n

Outreach:<\/p>\n