MARCEL VERGES AIGUAVIVA

CV date

5 July 2017

PERSONAL INFORMATION

First and Family name
Marcel Verges
Social Security, Passport, ID number
40462407W (NIF)
Age
51
Researcher numbers
Researcher ID
L-5784-2014
ORCID code

0000-0002-2606-223X

Current position

Name of University/Institution
Univ. of Girona (UdG) School of Medicine
Department
Medical Sciences
Address and Country
C/ Doctor Castany, s/n - IDIBGI - Parc Hospitalari Marti i Julià, Salt (prov. Girona - Spain)
Phone number
+34606726173

E-mail

mverges@gencardio.com

marcel.verges@udg.edu

Current position
Associate Prof.
From
Sep. 2015
Espec. cód. UNESCO
240701
keywords
SCN2B, Nav1.5, voltage-gated sodium channel, protein trafficking, Brugada Syndrome

Education

PhD
Biology
Univ. of Barcelona
1994

JCR articles, h Index, thesis supervised

Web of Science data
Total citations: 744

Average citations / year (2011-2016): 8

Total publications in Q1: 10

H Index: 13

Total publications in PubMed: 23

Publications as first or senior author: 12

Average citations / publication: 32

EVALUATION OF RESEARCH ACTIVITY
- Ramón y Cajal Contract by the MCyT (2004-2009) - Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF)

- Positive evaluation of my research group: Laboratory of epithelial cell biology, by the CIPF's external Scientific Advisory Board (2006)

- Favorable inform of an outstanding scientific career - Program I3, by the ANEP (2008)

- Favorable report of Research Merits (SEXENIOS DE INVESTIGACIÓN), through evaluation by AQU Catalunya - periods 1996-2001 (Exp. # U1448/12040286-115), 2002-2007 (Exp. # U1448/12040323-115) and 2008-2013 (Exp. # 0233S/1197/2014)

- Accreditation as Associate Professor: Professor Agregat, by AQU Catalunya (File # 0233S/465/2015), and Profesor Titular, by ANECA (Ref. 2014-003577)

THESES SUPERVISED
Yasmina Cuartero Aguado: Papel de retromer en el tráfico de β-secretasa y de la proteína precursora del β-amiloide en células MDCK polarizadas, defensed on March 1, 2012 & graded with Sobresaliente Cum laude (Univ. of Valencia); research performed at the Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF), with fellowship PR 01/2007 (2007-2012)

CV SUMMARY
In 2010, I joined the UdG as member of the Med. School faculty. I am also senior researcher at the Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI)'s Cardiovascular Genetics Group/Center (CGC), led by Dr. Ramon Brugada and affiliated with the UdG. Since then, I have continued my efforts to elucidate mechanisms regulating protein trafficking. In 2010, after a long collaborative period, I co-authored two articles published in journals of high impact, i.e., in FASEB J, and Nat. Cell Biol. In 2012 and 2014, I published two articles as senior author - respectively, in Traffic and Biol. Cell - studying localization and function of the retromer complex in polarized protein sorting at the endosome. The 1st paper includes Dr. Cuartero's Thesis data. That work contributed to a better understanding of how the β-amyloid peptide is generated, a cause/aggravating factor of Alzheimer's disease, which generation is promoted by defects in retromer-mediated sorting. The 2nd paper adds to my contributions to understanding the mechanisms of transcytosis in polarized cells. Subsequently, I contributed with a review to the Int. Rev. Cell Mol. Biol., upon invitation by the editor, presenting an update on the role of retromer in polarized protein transport and underlining how alterations in retromer localization and function may affect polarity establishment, thereby causing developmental defects and disease.

In 2013, I co-authored an article in Hum. Mutat. There, Dr. Helena Riuró showed for the first time the association with Brugada syndrome (BrS) of SCN2B, gene encoding the NaV channel β2 subunit. This project has led to a publication in Biol. Cell this year in which the work of graduate and undergraduate students has made possible to understand better how the BrS-associated β2 mutant D211G is defective in promoting localization of NaV1.5 to the cell surface. Recently, I also wrote a joined editorial in Acta Physiol. to discussing a paper that proposed a new mechanism for NaV1.5 downregulation and sodium current decrease in heart failure.

Throughout my long record in protein trafficking research, both in the US (UCSF) and Spain (UB, CIPF, and IDIBGI/UdG), I have gathered considerable experience in supervision and training of students, technicians and postdocs. I currently lead the work of a PhD student, Mr. Èric Cortada - who has his own fellowship - his 5th Master's student and 4th undergraduate student. The aforementioned work has actually laid the foundation of the current PhD project by Mr. Cortada, specifically focused on β2 pathogenic mutations on alterations in β2 trafficking and dynamics, and their effect on NaV1.5.

It should be mentioned that all students I have supervised are in general highly motivated and their stay in the lab turns into well-written reports and elegant oral presentations, often in English. In spite of the limited critical mass of local researchers potentially interested in ion channel trafficking in the region, I have managed to generate a fruitful environment in which students, virtually starting from scratch, gradually gain motivation along with technical and conceptual experience, quickly developing a critical view.

Finally, note that I received accreditation as Associate Prof. by rating agencies for both the Spanish and Catalan university system.

Relevant Publications
Dulsat, G.*; Palomeras, S.*; Cortada, E.*; Riuró, H.; Brugada, R., and Vergés, M. (2017) Trafficking and localisation to the plasma membrane of Nav1.5 promoted by the β2 subunit is defective due to a β2 mutation associated with Brugada syndrome. Biol. Cell 109 (7): 273-291 (*equal contribution)

Pagans S., and Vergés M. (2017) A mechanism for NaV 1.5 downregulation and sodium current decrease in heart failure. Acta Physiol. (Oxf.) doi: 10.1111/apha.12901

Verges, M. (2015) Retromer in polarized protein transport. Int. Rev. Cell Mol. Biol. 323 (5):129-179 (Review / Book Chapter); Elsevier, 2016. ISSN 1937-6448, ISBN 978-0-12-804808-5

Mellado, M., Cuartero, Y., Brugada, R., and Verges, M. (2014) Subcellular localization of retromer in postendocytic pathways of polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Biol. Cell 106 (11): 377-393

Riuró, H., Beltran-Alvarez, P., Tarradas, A., Selga, E., Campuzano, O., Verges, M., Pagans, S., Iglesias, A., Brugada, J., Brugada, P., Vázquez, F.M., Pérez, G.J., Scornik, F.S., and Brugada, R. (2013) A missense mutation in the sodium channel β2 subunit reveals SCN2b as a new candidate gene for Brugada syndrome. Hum Mutat. 34 (7): 961-966

Cuartero, Y., Mellado, M., Capell, A., Álvarez-Dolado, M., and Verges, M. (2012) Retromer Regulates Postendocytic Sorting of β-Secretase in Polarized Madin-Darby Canine Kidney Cells. Traffic 13 (10): 1393-1410

Verges, M. (2008) Retromer: Multipurpose Sorting and Specialization in Polarized Transport. Int. Rev. Cell Mol. Biol. 271 (4): 153-198 (Review / Book Chapter); Elsevier, 2008. ISSN 1937-6448, ISBN 978-0-12-374728-0

Verges, M. (2007) Retromer and sorting nexins in development. Front. Biosci. 12: 3825-3851 (Review)

Verges, M.*, Sebastian, I., and Mostov, K.E. (2007) Phosphoinositide 3-kinase regulates the role of retromer in transcytosis of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor. Exp. Cell Res. 313 (4): 707-718 (*corresponding author)

Verges, M., Luton, F., Gruber, C., Tiemann, F., Reinders, L.G., Huang, L., Burlingame A.L., Haft, C.R., and Mostov, K.E. (2004) The mammalian retromer regulates transcytosis of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor. Nat. Cell Biol. 6 (8): 763-769

Research projects and grants

Title: Regulation of trafficking of the cardiac voltage-gated sodium channel. Funding agency: UdG - Grants to Improve the Scientific Productivity of research groups. Ref: MPCUdG2016. Period: 2016/01-2018/12. Amount awarded: 7,500 €. PI: Marcel Vergés

Title: Intracellular trafficking and localization of the cardiac sodium channel - alterations in heart disease. Funding agency: UdG - Grants for Outstanding Actions. Ref: SING 12/23. Period: 2013/04-2013/03. Amount awarded: 1,330 €. PI: Marcel Vergés

Title: Implication of retromer-mediated traffic in neuronal differentiation. Funding agency: Valencian Health Dep. Ref: AP 089 09. Period: 2009/01-2009/31. Amount awarded: 8,000 €. PI: Marcel Vergés

Title: (Complementary Funding to project with REF PI 07 0895). Funding agency: Valencian Education Dep. Ref: ACOMP 2009 076. Period: 2009/01-2009/31. Amount awarded: 5,600 €. PI: Marcel Vergés

Title: Alterations of endosomal traffic and implications in disease and developmental processes. Funding agency: Spanish Ministry of Health. Ref: PI 07 0895. Period: 2008/01-2009/31. Amount awarded: 67, 518 €. PI: Marcel Vergés

Contracts

Optimization of protein quantitation techniques by western blotting using the Odyssey Infrared Imaging System - Dep. of Anatomy, UCSF (2000-2002), with LI-COR Biosciences, Lincoln, NE

Identification of non-receptor tyrosine kinase substrates in vivo, expression of the kinases in bacteria and purification maintaining their activity - Dep. of Anatomy, UCSF (2000-2002), with Kevan Shokat Lab, Dep. of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology

Development of antisense techniques in polarized epithelial cells - Dep. of Anatomy, UCSF (2002), with Atugen, AG (currently, Silence Therapeutics, London)

RESEARCH TRAINING:
- Ongoing predoctoral project
Eric Cortada Almar: regulation of trafficking of the cardiac voltage-gated sodium channel influenced by pathogenic mutations in the β2 subunit; at the CGC -IDIBGI and UdG

- Master's Degrees
At the CGC-IDIBGI and UdG

Gemma Dulsat Masvidal: Pathogenic mutations in the voltage-dependent sodium channel β2 subunit affect the localization of Nav1.5 in cardiac cells - 2016: Excelente (9.0)

. Eric Cortada Almar: Effects of the D211G mutation in membrane dynamics of the cardiac voltage-gated sodium channel β2 subunit - 2015: Excelente (9.3)

. Robert Serradesanferm Vega: Role of lipid raft domains in plasma membrane targeting of the voltage-gated sodium channel β2 subunit - 2014: Notable (7.7)

. Sònia Palomeras Pairet: Tráfico intracelular y localización de Nav1.5 y subunidades β accesorias - 2013: Notable (7.5)

- Undergraduate Thesis Projects
At the CGC-IDIBGI and UdG

. Heleia Caro Crous: Regulation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 channel (TRPV2) trafficking and localization in polarized MDCK cells - 2016

. Gemma Dulsat Masvidal: Voltage-dependent sodium channel β2 subunit regulates the localization of Nav1.5 at the apical plasma membrane of polarized MDCK cells - 2015: Excelente (9.8)

. Leidy V. Cobos Pilay: Tráfico intracelular y localización del canal de sodio cardíaco y subunidades β accesorias - 2014: Notable (7.4)

- Undergraduate summer students
At the CGC-IDIBGI and UdG

Program: Molecular basis underlying Sudden Cardiac Death (2012-2015)

- Other previous research training:
. Isabel Sebastian Francisco: predoctoral project (Advanced Studies Diploma) to identify retromer targets in cell activation and proliferation - CIPF fellowship PR4/007 (2005-2006)

. Maravillas Mellado López: lab technician project to study subcellular localization of retromer in postendocytic pathways of polarized MDCK cells - CIPF fellowship AT4/009 (2005-2009

- Peer review activity
-Reviewer for JCR-indexed journals since 2005 (more than a dozen of manuscripts reviewed)

- Thesis Committee member for Esther Rincón Gila (Autonomous Univ. of Madrid-2009) and Meritxell Reverter Martín (Univ. of Barcelona-2014) and Pablo Doñate Macian (Autonomous Univ. of Barcelona-2016)

- Referee for the ANEP of the MICINN (Spain) since 2009: 6 projects evaluated (BFU/BMC)

- Referee for the FONCyT of the ANPCYT-MINCyT (Argentina) since 2010: 2 projects (Cell and Molecular Biology/Medical Sciences)

- Member in Evaluation Commissions for UdG research stuff since 2011 (of over 10 commissions)

- External Evaluator for the European Research Council Advanced Grant projects in 2012: 1 project (Cell and Development Biology)

- Referee for the ACSUCYL (Castilla y León) in 2012: 1 project