Joana D. Amaral
PhD (2008) in Pharmacy (Biochemistry), Universidade de Lisboa
Invited Assistant Professor, Biochemistry and Human Biology
Post-Doctoral Fellow, iMed.ULisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa
Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa — Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
Research Interests
My main scientific interests accompany the laboratory focus on identifying mechanism-based molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. I am particularly interested in cell death signalling pathways including apoptosis and, more recently, necroptosis. I pursue these goals in disease processes that stretch from neurodegeneration involving premature cell death to cancer that implicates enhanced resistance to cell death. I am also deeply involved in cell-based screening assays for drug discovery.
Selected Publications
Nunes RC, Ribeiro CJA, Monteiro A, Rodrigues CMP, Amaral JD*, Santos MMM. In vitro targeting of colon cancer cells using spiropyrazoline oxindoles. Eur J Med Chem 2017; 139: 168-79. *Corresponding author
Dionísio PA, Amaral JD*, Ribeiro MF, Lo AC, D’Hooge R, Rodrigues CMP. Amyloid-beta pathology is attenuated by tauroursodeoxycholic acid treatment in APP/PS1 mice after disease onset. Neurobiol Aging 2015; 36: 228-40. *Corresponding author
Amaral JD*, Herrera F, Rodrigues PM, Dionísio PA, Outeiro TF, Rodrigues CMP. Live-cell imaging of p53 interactions using a novel Venus-based bimolecular fluorescence complementation system. Biochem Pharmacol 2013; 85: 745-52. *corresponding author
Nunes AF, Amaral JD, Lo AC, Viana RJS, D’Hooge R, Rodrigues CMP. TUDCA, a bile acid, attenuates amyloid precursor protein processing and amyloid beta deposition in APP/PS1 mice. Mol Neurobiol 2012; 45: 440-54.
Amaral JD, Castro RE, Solá S, Steer CJ, Rodrigues CMP. p53 is a key molecular target of ursodeoxycholic acid in regulating apoptosis. J Biol Chem 2007; 282: 34250-9.