Role
Dr Montiel-Duarte is a Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry within the Biosciences team at the School of Science and Technology. Her main contributions to teaching at NTU are in the field of Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Dr Montiel-Duarte is Module leader for the modules Metabolism and its Control and MBiol Research Project, and she is involved as a lecturer in other modules (e.g. Clinical Biochemistry, Antibody and DNA Technology). Dr Montiel-Duarte is also the biosciences MBiol Cluster manager and, in the past, has been the Erasmus Coordinator for Biosciences and the BSc (H) Biological Science Biochemistry and Microbiology Pathway leader. She was also involved in the Royal Society of Biology accreditation of the Biosciences Courses.
Dr Montiel-Duarte is a PhD and MSc/MRes supervisor and her research interests include gene regulation and cell signalling. Her lab has recently moved to the John van Geest Cancer Research Centre within the Nottingham Trent University.
Career overview
Dr Montiel-Duarte is a Licentiate (BSc + MSc) in Biochemistry, a Licentiate (BSc + MSc) in Biology, and has a PhD in Biochemistry.
She has been a lecturer at NTU since October 2010 and her previous roles were:
- Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham (2005-2008)
- Research Associate, Biochemistry Department, University of Leicester (2004-2005)
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular Biology Department, Cell Therapy Area, University Hospital of Navarra (2002-2004)
Research areas
Dr Montiel-Duarte's interest is focused in studying de-regulated signalling pathways leading to altered gene expression in cancer (mainly chronic myeloid leukaemia, hepatocarcinoma and prostate cancer). Her lab has been studying the regulation and role of AGAP2, a protein overexpressed in cancer, and she is currently interested in the selection of transcription start sites and the lengths of the mRNAs 5'UTRs and its implication for translation as a possible mechanism to regulate protein expression.
Opportunities arise to carry out postgraduate research towards an MPhil / PhD in the areas identified above. Further information may be obtained on the NTU Research Degrees website https://www.ntu.ac.uk/research/research-degrees-at-ntu.
In the past, Dr Montiel-Duarte was involved in the following projects:
- Identification of a conserved motif that mediates interaction of the oncogenic corepressor protein BCL11A with retinoid receptors and COUP-TF
- Alterations in cell cycle and apoptosis pathways mediated by BCR-ABL1 oncogene in chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia with Philadelphia chromosome
- Characterization of the apoptotic process induced by 3,4-methilendioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in hepatocytes and stellate cells
- Signalling pathways related to MDMA, TNF-alpha, IGF-I and TGF-beta in collagen production by hepatic stellate cells
- Collagen production in hypertensive rats
External activity
Dr Montiel-Duarte is a Grant Committee member for the Biochemical Society (2019 - onwards) and a member of the following professional societies:
- Higher Education Academy (2012 – present)
- Biochemical Society (2005 – present)
Dr Montiel-Duarte has reviewed papers for the journals Scientific Reports and Bioscience Reports.
Sponsors and collaborators
Recent research is conducted with the collaboration, funding and / or support of:
- Santander Mobility Award (£1,000)
- Dr Maria Iraburu (University of Navarra, Spain)
Dr Montiel-Duarte’s research support in the past includes:
- Summer Studentship from the Wellcome Trust, 2013 (£1,080)
- Santander Research Mobility Award, in collaboration with Dr Colombo and Dr Dickins (£5,000)
- Summer Studentship from the Wellcome Trust, 2007 (£1,440)
- Summer Studentship from the Biochemical Society, 2007 (£1,280)
- Ramon Areces Foundation supported Dr Montiel-Duarte's early research work in the UK, 2004-2006 (€48,000)
Publications
Selected Publications
- Role of AGAP2 in the profibrogenic effects induced by TGFβ in LX-2 hepatic stellate cells. Amaia Navarro-Corcuera, Maria J. Lopez-Zabalza, Juan J. Martinez-Irujo, Gloria Alvarez-Sola, Matias A. Avila, Maria J. Iraburu, Eduardo Ansorena, Cristina Montiel-Duarte, BBA - Molecular Cell Reports - accepted 15th January 2019.
- SP1 and RARα regulate AGAP2 expression in cancer. Yegor Doush, Arif A. Surani, Amaia Navarro-Corcuera, Stephanie McArdle, E. Ellen Billett and Cristina Montiel-Duarte, Scientific Reports - accepted 29th November 2018.
- A signature motif mediating selective interactions of BCL11A with the NR2E/F subfamily of orphan nuclear receptors. Chan CM, Fulton J, Montiel-Duarte C, Collins HM, Bharti N, Wadelin FR, Moran PM, Mongan NP, Heery DM, Nucleic Acids Research, 2013, 41 (21), 9663-79
- Interleukin-4-inducing principle from Schistosoma mansoni eggs contains a functional C-terminal nuclear localization signal necessary for nuclear translocation in mammalian cells but not for its uptake. Kaur I, Schramm G, Everts B, Scholzen T, Kindle KB, Beetz C, Montiel-Duarte C, Blindow S, Jones AT, Haas H, Stolnik S, Heery DM and Falcone FH, Infection and Immunity, 2011, 79 (4), 1779-1788
- Resistance to Imatinib Mesylate-induced apoptosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia is associated with PTEN down-regulation due to promoter hypermethylation. Montiel-Duarte C, Cordeu L, Agirre X, Roman-Gomez J, Jimenez- Velasco A, San Jose-eneriz E, Garate L, Andreu EJ, Calasanz MJ, Heiniger A, Torres A and Prosper F, Leukaemia Research, 2008, 32 (5), 709-716
- Antiphospholipid antibodies from patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome induce monocyte tissue factor expression through the simultaneous activation of NF-kB/Rel proteins via the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, and of the MEK-1/ERK path. Lopez-Pederea C, Bunendia P, Cuadrado MJ, Siendonies E, Aguirre MA, Barbarroja N., Montiel-Duarte C, Torres A, Khamashta M and Velasco F, Arthritis & Rheumatism, 2006, 54 (1), 301-311
- ASPP1, a common activator of TP53, is inactivated by aberrant methylation of its promoter in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Agirre X, Roman-Gomez J, Jimenez-Velasco A, Garate L, Montiel-Duarte C, Navarro G, Vazquez I, Zalacain M, Calasanz MJ, Heiniger A, Torres A, Minna JD and Prosper F, Oncogene, 2006, 25 (13) , 1862-1870
- Abnormal methylation of the common PARK2 and PACRG promoter is associated with downregulation of gene expression in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia. Agirre X, Roman-Gomez J, Vazquez I, Jimenez-Velasco A, Garate L, Montiel-Duarte C, Artieda P, Cordeu L, Lahortiga I, Calasanz MJ, Heiniger A, Torres A, Minna JD and Prosper F, 2006, International Journal of Cancer, 118 (8), 1945-1953
- BCR-ABL induces the expression of Skp2 through the PI3K pathway to promote p27 Kip1 degradation and proliferation of chronic myelogenous leukemia cells, Andreu EJ, Lledo E, Poch E, Ivorra C, Albero MP, Martinez-Climent JA, Montiel-Duarte C, Rifon J, Perez-Calvo J, Arbona C, Prosper F and Perez-Roger I, Cancer Research, 2005, 65 (8), 3264-3272
- Role of reactive oxygen species, glutathione and NF-kB in apoptosis induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (''Ecstasy'') on hepatic stellate cells. Montiel-Duarte C, Varela-Rey M, Oses-Prieto JA, Lopez-Zabalza, MJ Beitia G, Cenarruzabita E and Iraburu MJ, Biochemical Pharmacology, 2004, 67, 1025-1033