Guillermina Lozano

Guillermina Lozano
Alma materPan American University (BSc)
Rutgers University (PhD)
Awards
Scientific career
InstitutionsUniversity of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Thesis Isolation, characterization and analysis of the gene encoding the Alpha 2 type IX collagen polypeptide  (1986)

Guillermina 'Gigi' Lozano is an American geneticist. She is a Professor and Hubert L. Olive Stringer Distinguished Chair in Oncology in Honor of Sue Gribble Stringer at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Lozano is recognised for her studies of the p53 tumour suppressor pathway, characterising the protein as a regulator of gene expression (transcription factor) and that is disturbed in many cancers. She was the first to recognize that the p53 gene encoded a transcriptional activator of other genes[1] Her lab has made significant contributions by developing and analyzing mouse models to study the activities of mutant p53, revealing how these mutations drive tumor development and progression.[2] She also found out how the Mdm2 and Mdm4 proteins work in the body, especially in stopping cancer and controlling p53. This research suggested that blocking Mdm2/4 could be a new way to treat cancer.[3]

Early life and education

Lozano was born in East Chicago, Indiana, the daughter of Mexican immigrants. She attended a private Catholic high school, Bishop Noll, up until her senior year, when her family moved to McAllen, Texas.[4]

Lozano completed a Bachelor of Science in biology and mathematics, graduating Magna Cum Laude, at Pan American University (now University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) in 1979. She earned a doctor of philosophy in biochemistry from Rutgers University and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in 1986.[5] Lozano's dissertation was titled Isolation, characterization and analysis of the gene encoding the Alpha 2 type IX collagen polypeptide.[6] She completed postgraduate training in molecular biology at Princeton University from 1985 to 1987.[5]

Career and research

Lozano is Professor and Chair of the Department of Genetics[7] at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is also a professor at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.[5]

Lozano is recognised for her studies of the p53[8] tumour suppressor pathway, from characterising p53 as a transcriptional activator[9] to revealing the importance of two inhibitors of p53, Mdm2 and Mdm4. Her lab has generated dozens of mouse models of p53 to explore effects of mutations in this tumor-suppressing protein on tumorogeneis.[10]

Awards and honours

Lozano is a member of the National Academy of Sciences,[11] National Academy of Medicine,[12] Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas.[5]

Awards:

References

  1. ^ Raycroft, Loretta; Wu, Hongyun; Lozano, Guillermina (1990). "Transcriptional Activation by Wild-Type but Not Transforming Mutants of the p53 Anti-Oncogene". Science. 249 (4972): 1049–1051. Bibcode:1990Sci...249.1049R. doi:10.1126/science.2144364. PMC 2935288. PMID 2144364.
  2. ^ "Mutant p53 Activities in Mouse Tumor Models | NIH Office of Intramural Research".
  3. ^ "2022 Award for Distinguished Research in the Biomedical Sciences".
  4. ^ Hardy, Michael. "Her discovery expanded our knowledge of cancer genetics". MD Anderson Cancer Center. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  5. ^ a b c d "Guillermina (Gigi) Lozano". MD Anderson Cancer Center. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
  6. ^ Lozano, Guillermina (1986). "Isolation, characterization and analysis of the gene encoding the Alpha 2 type IX collagen polypeptide". ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. Rutgers The State University of New Jersey. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ "Guillermina (Gigi) Lozano". MD Anderson Cancer Center. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
  8. ^ Moyer, Sydney M.; Wasylishen, Amanda R.; Qi, Yuan; Fowlkes, Natalie; Su, Xiaoping; Lozano, Guillermina (2020-09-22). "p53 drives a transcriptional program that elicits a non-cell-autonomous response and alters cell state in vivo". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 117 (38): 23663–23673. Bibcode:2020PNAS..11723663M. doi:10.1073/pnas.2008474117. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 7519296. PMID 32900967.
  9. ^ Raycroft, L.; Wu, H.; Lozano, G. (1990). "Transcriptional Activation by Wild-Type but Not Transforming Mutants of the p53 Anti-Oncogene". Science. 249 (4972): 1049–1051. Bibcode:1990Sci...249.1049R. doi:10.1126/science.2144364. PMC 2935288. PMID 2144364.
  10. ^ Jeffers, John R.; Pinto, Emilia M.; Rehg, Jerold E.; Clay, Michael R.; Wang, Jinling; Neale, Geoffrey; Heath, Richard J.; Lozano, Guillermina; Lalli, Enzo; Figueiredo, Bonald C.; Pappo, Alberto S. (2021-05-01). "The Common Germline TP53-R337H Mutation Is Hypomorphic and Confers Incomplete Penetrance and Late Tumor Onset in a Mouse Model". Cancer Research. 81 (9): 2442–2456. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-20-1750. ISSN 0008-5472. PMC 8137600. PMID 33637564.
  11. ^ a b "Guillermina Lozano". www.nasonline.org. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
  12. ^ "Member". National Academy of Medicine. Retrieved 2022-02-11.[permanent dead link‍]
  13. ^ "Margaret Pittman Lecture | NIH Office of Intramural Research".
  14. ^ "MD Anderson's Guillermina Lozano receives AAMC Award for Distinguished Research in the Biomedical Sciences".
  15. ^ "Guillermina (Gigi) Lozano, PhD". American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Retrieved 2022-02-11.
  16. ^ "Guillermina Lozano". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
  17. ^ "E.E. Just Lecture", American Society for Cell Biology
  18. ^ "Guillermina Lozano Member Directory", National Academy of Sciences
  19. ^ "AACR-Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Memorial Lectureship Recipients" Archived 2019-03-08 at the Wayback Machine, American Association for Cancer Research
  20. ^ "AACR-Minorities in Cancer Research Jane Cooke Wright Memorial Lectureship Recipients" Archived 2019-03-08 at the Wayback Machine, American Association for Cancer Research