Glaucia Regina Martinez is graduated in Chemistry by University of São Paulo (USP) in 1998, and received the Lavoisier Prize from Regional Council of Chemistry -IV region (diploma of honor to merit as best student - Industrial Option in the period 1995-1998) and PhD (2003) in Sciences - Biochemistry by USP, with a sandwich stage at CEA Grenoble - France (2002) and postdoctoral degree from USP (2004). Currently she is Full Professor of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). Her research work has emphasis on reactive oxygen species, biomolecule damage, metabolism and bioenergetics of tumoral cells. In 2007 she received a scholarship grant for Women in Science from L'Oreal, the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and UNESCO. She was coordinator of the Graduate Program in Sciences - Biochemistry of UFPR from jan/2015 to aug/2018). Currently, she is vice-coordinator of multicentric Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
EDUCATION
Postdoctorate
2003 - 2004
Universidade de São Paulo, USP, Brasil.
Scholarship holder of: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, FAPESP, Brasil.
Major Area: Biological Sciences
Formal Education/Degree
1999 - 2003 Ph.D. in Ciências Biológicas (Bioquímica).
Universidade de São Paulo, USP, Brasil.
with a period in Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires de Grenoble (Advisor: Jean-Luc Ravanat e Didier Gasparutto). , Year of degree: 2003.
Advisor: Paolo Di Mascio.
Scholarship holder of: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, FAPESP, Brasil.
1995 - 1998 Bachelor in Chemistry (Industrial)
Universidade de São Paulo, USP, Brasil.
Unveiling novel targets in melanoma under melanogenesis stimulation and photodynamic therapy by redox proteomics Ester Mazepa, Elizabeth Sousa Cunha, Hellen Paula Valerio, Paolo Di Mascio, Michel Batista, Fabricio Klerynton Marchini, Willian Vanderlei Meira, Guilhermina Rodrigues Noleto, Sheila Maria Brochado Winnischofer, Glaucia Regina Martinez Photochemistry and Photobiology, 2025 Melanogenesis‐stimulated B16‐F10 cells enter in a quiescent state, present inhibited mitochondrial respiration and increased reactive oxygen species levels. These alterations suggest that these cells may be under redox signaling, allowing tumor survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate redox‐modified proteins in B16‐F10 cells after melanogenesis stimulation and rose bengal‐photodynamic therapy (RB‐PDT). A redox proteomics label‐free approach based on the biotin switch assay technique with biotin‐HPDP and N‐ethylmaleimide was used to assess the thiol‐oxidized protein profile. Aconitase was oxidized at Cys‐448 and Cys‐451, citrate synthase was oxidized at Cys‐202 and aspartate aminotransferase (Got2) was oxidized at Cys‐272 and Cys‐274, exclusively after melanogenesis stimulation. After RB‐PDT, only guanine nucleotide‐binding protein subunit beta‐2‐like 1 (Gnb2l1) was oxidized (Cys‐168). In contrast, melanogenesis stimulation followed by RB‐PDT led to the oxidation of different cysteines in Gnb2l1 (Cys‐153 and Cys‐249). Besides that, glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (Gapdh) presented oxidation at Cys‐245, peptidyl‐prolyl cis‐trans isomerase A (Ppia) was oxidized at Cys‐161 and 5,6‐dihydroxyindole‐2‐carboxylic acid oxidase (Tyrp1) was oxidized at Cys‐65, Cys‐30, and Cys‐336 after melanogenesis stimulation followed by RB‐PDT. The redox alterations observed in murine melanoma cells and identification of possible target proteins are of great importance to further understand tumor resistance mechanisms.
The Mesoionic 1,3,4-thiadiazolium Derivative, MI-D, is a Potential Drug for Treating Glioblastoma by Impairing Mitochondrial Functions Linked to Energy Provision in Glioma Cells Marília Locatelli Corrêa-Ferreira, Amanda do Rocio Andrade Pires, Juan Vitor Miranda, Eduardo de Freitas Montin, Igor Resendes Barbosa, Aurea Echevarria Aznar Neves Lima, Maria Eliane Merlin Rocha, Glaucia Regina Martinez, Sílvia Maria Suter Correia Cadena Anti Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 2025 Background: Mesoionic compound MI-D possesses important biological activities, such as antiinflammatory and antitumoral against melanoma and hepatocarcinoma. Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and common central nervous system tumor in adults. Currently, chemotherapies are not entirely effective, and the survival of patients diagnosed with glioblastoma is extremely short. Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of MI-D in noninvasive A172 glioblastoma cells and establish which changes in functions linked to energy provision are associated with this effect. Methods: Cells A172 were cultured under glycolysis and phosphorylation oxidative conditions and evaluated: viability by the MTT method, oxygen consumption by high-resolution respirometry, levels of pyruvate, lactate, citrate, and ATP, and glutaminase and citrate synthase activities by spectrophotometric methods. Results: Under glycolysis-dependent conditions, MI-D caused significant cytotoxic effects with impaired cell respiration, reducing the maximal capacity of the electron transport chain. However, A172 cells were more susceptible to MI-D effects under oxidative phosphorylation-dependent conditions. At the IC25, inhibition of basal and maximal respiration of A172 cells was observed, without stimulation of the glycolytic pathway or Krebs cycle, along with inhibition of the activity of glutaminase enzyme, resulting in a 30% ATP deficit. Additionally, independent of metabolic conditions, MI-D treatment induced cell death in A172 cells by apoptosis machinery/ processes. Conclusion: The impairment of mitochondrial respiration by MI-D under the condition sustained by oxidative phosphorylation may enhance the cytotoxic effect on A172 glioma cells, although the mechanism of cell death relies on apoptosis.
Oxidative imbalance linked to impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics mediates the toxicity of mesoionic compounds MI-D and MI-J in hepatocarcinoma cells (HepG2) Ana Paula Perbiche Neves, Fernando Diego Kaziuk, Marília Locatelli Corrêa-Ferreira, Glaucia Regina Martinez, Ester Mazepa, Danilo Sousa-Pereira, Aurea Echevarria, Sheila Maria Brochado Winnischofer, Amanda do Rocio Andrade Pires, Silvia Maria Suter Correia Cadena Free Radical Research, 2025 Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and deadly form of liver cancer with limited treatment options for advanced stages. Mesoionic compounds MI-D and MI-J have shown potential for treating HCC due to their significant toxicity to these cells. This study investigated whether this toxicity is linked to their effects on oxidative balance in HepG2 cells cultured in high glucose (HG-glycolysis-dependent) and galactose plus glutamine supplemented (GAL-oxidative phosphorylation-dependent) DMEM medium. ROS levels were increased in cells cultured in both media when exposed to MI-D and MI-J (50 μM). However, MI-D at an intermediate concentration (25 μM) decreased ROS levels in the GAL medium. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased under all tested conditions by compounds (25 μM). Conversely, MI-D and MI-J decreased total peroxidase activity in both media at 25 and 50 μM, respectively. MI-D in the HG medium decreased glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity, whereas MI-J reduced the enzyme activity at a concentration of 25 μM and increased it at 50 μM. In the GAL medium, MI-J (50 μM) increased GPx activity, while glutathione reductase (GR) activity was decreased by the compounds (50 μM) in both media. Furthermore, the P-AMPK/tAMPk ratio was increased by MI-J at 25 μM in the GAL medium. Our results show that MI-D and MI-J caused oxidative imbalance, particularly affecting cells cultured in the GAL medium. The data also support that the mesoionic effects depended on their concentration and substituent in the mesoionic ring.
Effects of redox modulation on quiescin/sulfhydryl oxidase activity of melanoma cells Ester Mazepa, Ana Luiza Dorigan de Matos Furlanetto, Hulyana Brum, Lia Sumie Nakao, Pierina Alexandra Martinez, Silvia Maria Suter Correia Cadena, Maria Eliane Merlin Rocha, Elizabeth Sousa Cunha, Glaucia Regina Martinez Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 2024
The metabolic response of Araucaria angustifolia embryogenic cells to heat stress is associated with their maturation potential Fernando Diego Kaziuk, Ana Luiza Dorigan de Matos Furlanetto, André Luis Wendt dos Santos, Eny Iochevet Senegal Floh, Lucelia Donatti, Maria Eliane Merlin Rocha, Fabiane Fortes, Glaucia Regina Martinez, Silvia Maria Suter Correia Cadena Functional Plant Biology, 2023 Araucaria angustifolia is a critically endangered species and its distribution can be affected by an increase in temperature. In this study, we evaluated the effects of heat stress (30°C) on Araucaria angustifolia cell lines responsive (SE1) and non-responsive (SE6) to the development of somatic embryos. The viability of both cell lines was reduced by heat stress and mitochondria were the organelles most affected. Heat stress for 24 h increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in SE1 cells, followed by a reduction at 48 and 72 h. In SE6 cells, an increase occurred after 24 and 48 h of stress, returning to control levels at 72 h. H2O2 levels were increased after 24 h for both SE1 and SE6 cells, being higher for SE6. Interestingly, at 48 and 72 h, H2O2 levels decreased in SE1 cells, while in SE6, the values returned to the control levels. The respiration of SE6 cells in the presence of oxidisable substrates was inhibited by heat stress, in agreement with the high lipid peroxidation levels. The AaSERK1 gene was identified in both cultures, with greater expression in the SE1 line. Heat stress for 24 and 48 h increased gene expression only in this cell line. The activity of peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and enzymes of the glutathione/ascorbate cycle was increased in both cell lines subjected to heat stress. Catalase activity was increased only in SE6 cells at 72 h of exposure. These results show that responsive SE1 cells can modulate ROS levels more efficiently than SE6 when these cells are stressed by heat. This ability may be related to the maturation capacity of these cells.
High Melanin Content in Melanoma Cells Contributes to Enhanced DNA Damage after Rose Bengal Photosensitization Paloma Kalegari, Daniela Morais Leme, Geonildo Rodrigo Disner, Marta Margarete Cestari, Daniel de Lima Bellan, Willian Vanderlei Meira, Ester Mazepa, Glaucia Regina Martinez Photochemistry and Photobiology, 2022 Melanoma is a type of tumor that originates from melanocytes. Irradiation of melanin with UVA and visible light can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as singlet molecular oxygen (1O2). The objective of this study was to examine DNA damage in melanoma cells (B16‐F10) with different melanin contents, subjected to1O2generation. To this end, we used the photosensitizer Rose Bengal acetate (RBAc) and irradiation with visible light (526 nm) (RBAc‐PDT). We used the modified comet assay with the repair enzymes hOGG1 and T4 endonuclease V to detect the DNA damage associated with 8‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydro‐2′‐deoxyguanosine and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers lesions, respectively. We observed increased formation of hOGG1‐ and T4endoV‐sensitive DNA lesions after light exposure (with or without RBAc). Furthermore, 18 h after irradiation, hOGG1‐sensitive DNA lesions increased compared to that at the initial time point (0 h), which shows that a high melanin content contributes to post‐irradiation formation of them, mainlyviasustained oxidative stress, as confirmed by the measurement of ROS levels and activity of antioxidant enzymes. Contrastingly, the number of T4endoV‐sensitive DNA lesions decreased over time (18 h). Our data indicate that in melanoma cells, a higher amount of melanin may affect DNA damage levels when subjected to RBAc‐PDT.
Mitochondrial bioenergetics and enzymatic antioxidant defense differ in Paraná pine cell lines with contrasting embryogenic potential Ana Luiza Dorigan de Matos Furlanetto, Fernando Diego Kaziuk, Glaucia Regina Martinez, Lucelia Donatti, Maria Eliane Merlin Rocha, André Luis Wendt dos Santos, Eny Iochevet Segal Floh, Silvia Maria Suter Correia Cadena Free Radical Research, 2021 Araucaria angustifolia is classified as a critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This threat is worsened by the inefficiency of methods for ex-situ conservation and propagation. In conifers, somatic embryogenesis (SE) associated with cryopreservation is an efficient method to achieve germplasm conservation and mass clonal propagation. However, the efficiency of SE is highly dependent on genotype responsivity to the artificial stimulus used in vitro during cell line proliferation and later during somatic embryo development. In this study, we evaluated the activity of antioxidant enzymes and characterized mitochondrial functions during the proliferation of embryogenic cells of A. angustifolia responsive (SE1) and non-responsive (SE6) to the development of somatic embryos. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes GR (EC 1.6.4.2), MDHAR (EC 1.6.5.4), and POX (EC 1.11.1.7) were increased in SE1 culture, while in SE6 culture, only the activity of DHAR (EC 1.8.5.1) was significantly higher. Additionally, SE6 culture presented a higher number of mitochondria, which agreed with the increased rate of oxygen consumption compared to responsive SE1 culture; however, the mitochondrial volume was lower. Although the ATP levels did not differ, the NAD(P)H levels were higher in SE1 cells. NDs, AOX, and UCP were less active in responsive SE1 than in non-responsive cells. Our results show significant differences between SE1 and SE6 embryogenic cells regarding mitochondrial functions and antioxidant enzyme activities, which may be intrinsic to the in vitro proliferation phase of both cell lines, possessing a crucial role for the induction of in vitro maturation process.
Cytotoxic effects of 4′-hydroxychalcone on human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) Stephane Janaina de Moura Escobar, Martin Simone, Nathan Martin, Ciro Alberto de Oliveira Ribeiro, Glaucia Regina Martinez, Sheila Maria Brochado Winnischofer, Paul Kenneth Witting, Maria Eliane Merlin Rocha Toxicology in Vitro, 2019
Acid heteropolysaccharides with potent antileishmanial effects Monica Mendes Kangussu-Marcolino, Marianna Maia Taulois do Rosário, Miguel Daniel Noseda, Maria Eugenia Rabello Duarte, Diogo Ricardo Bazan Ducatti, Juliana Emanuela Fogari Cassolato, Marcello Iacomini, Glaucia Regina Martinez, Maria Eliane Merlin Rocha, Silvia Maria Suter Correia Cadena, Guilhermina Rodrigues Noleto International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2015
Selective cytotoxicity of 1,3,4-thiadiazolium mesoionic derivatives on hepatocarcinoma cells (HepG2) Gustavo Jabor Gozzi, Amanda do Rocio Andrade Pires, Glaucio Valdameri, Maria Eliane Merlin Rocha, Glaucia Regina Martinez, Guilhermina Rodrigues Noleto, Alexandra Acco, Carlos Eduardo Alves de Souza, Aurea Echevarria, Camilla Moretto dos Reis, Attilio Di Pietro, Sílvia Maria Suter Correia Cadena Plos One, 2015
Leishmanicidal activity of polysaccharides and their oxovanadium(IV/V) complexes Alex Evangelista do Amaral, Carmen Lúcia Oliveira Petkowicz, Ana Lucia Ramalho Mercê, Marcelo Iacomini, Glaucia Regina Martinez, Maria Eliane Merlin Rocha, Silvia Maria Suter Correia Cadena, Guilhermina Rodrigues Noleto European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2015
Melanin photosensitization and the effect of visible light on epithelial cells Orlando Chiarelli-Neto, Alan Silva Ferreira, Waleska Kerllen Martins, Christiane Pavani, Divinomar Severino, Fernanda Faião-Flores, Silvya Stuchi Maria-Engler, Eduardo Aliprandini, Glaucia R. Martinez, Paolo Di Mascio, Marisa H. G. Medeiros, Maurício S. Baptista Plos One, 2014
Flavone induces cell death in human hepatoma HepG2 cells Glaucio Valdameri, Juliana C. N. Kenski, Vivian R. Moure, Marina Trombetta-Lima, Glaucia R. Martinez, Mari C. Sogayar, Sheila M. B. Winnischofer, Maria E. M. Rocha Natural Product Communications, 2014
The antioxidant effect of the mesoionic compound SYD-1 in mitochondria Gustavo Jabor Gozzi, Amanda do Rocio Andrade Pires, Glaucia Regina Martinez, Maria Eliane Merlin Rocha, Guilhermina Rodrigues Noleto, Aurea Echevarria, André Vinicius Canuto, Sílvia Maria Suter Correia Cadena Chemico Biological Interactions, 2013
DNA damage by singlet oxygen and cellular protective mechanisms Lucymara F. Agnez-Lima, Julliane T.A. Melo, Acarízia E. Silva, Ana Helena S. Oliveira, Ana Rafaela S. Timoteo, Keronninn M. Lima-Bessa, Glaucia R. Martinez, Marisa H.G. Medeiros, Paolo Di Mascio, Rodrigo S. Galhardo, Carlos F.M. Menck Mutation Research Reviews in Mutation Research, 2012
Effects of natural flavones on membrane properties and citotoxicity of HeLa cells Tatiana Herrerias, Alexandre A. Oliveira, Maurício L. Belem, Brás H. Oliveira, Eva G. S. Carnieri, Sílvia M. S. C. Cadena, Guilhermina R. Noleto, Glaucia R. Martinez, Maria B. M. Oliveira, Maria E. M. Rocha Revista Brasileira De Farmacognosia, 2010
Production of cachexia mediators by Walker 256 cells from ascitic tumors Rosilene Rebeca, Lívia Bracht, Guilhermina Rodrigues Noleto, Glaucia Regina Martinez, Silvia Maria Suter Correia Cadena, Eva Gunilla Skare Carnieri, Maria Eliane Merlin Rocha, Maria Benigna Martinelli de Oliveira Cell Biochemistry and Function, 2008
Eupafolin: Effect on mitochondrial energetic metabolism Tatiana Herrerias, Brás H. de Oliveira, Maria A.B. Gomes, Maria B.M. de Oliveira, Eva G.S. Carnieri, Sílvia M.S.C. Cadena, Glaucia R. Martinez, Maria E.M. Rocha Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 2008
Peroxynitrite does not decompose to singlet oxygen (1ΔgO2) and nitroxyl (NO-) Glaucia R. Martinez, Paolo Di Mascio, Marcelo G. Bonini, Ohara Augusto, Karlis Briviba, Helmut Sies, Patrick Maurer, Ursula Röthlisberger, Susanna Herold, Willem H. Koppenol Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2000
