Michael Piacentino, PhD

Primary Academic Title

Assistant Professor of Cell Biology

X Profile

https://x.com/mikepiacentino

Research Interests

Developmental biology, Cell biology, Cell migration, Neural crest cells, Cell signaling, Lipid metabolism, Membrane organization, Membrane biophysics

Lab Website

The Piacentino Lab

Research Summary

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular lifestyle change that produces highly invasive cells that can migrate long distances in the body. These processes are critical for normal embryonic development but are often reactivated in disease states such as cancer metastasis. Our lab seeks to understand the impact of developmentally timed changes in lipid composition, how these lipids alter membrane biophysics and organization, and ultimately regulate cell signaling, EMT, and migration. To answer these questions in vivo, we use the developing chicken embryo and study a migratory population of stem cells called the neural crest. Insights gained from studying neural crest cells have the potential to inform novel therapeutic approaches to combat both congenital disorders and metastatic diseases. We work together toward these goals in an inclusive, respectful, and creative research environment.

Google Scholar - Publications

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=5qDBh0EAAAAJ&hl=en

PubMed - Publications

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/michael.piacentino.1/bibliography/public/

Selected Publications

• Piacentino ML, Fasse AJ, Camacho-Avila A, Grabylnikov I, and Bronner ME (2024). SMPD3 expression is spatially regulated in the developing embryo by SOXE factors. Developmental Biology. 506:31-41. Article Link.
• Piacentino ML, Hutchins EJ, Andrews CJ, and Bronner ME (2022). Temporal changes in plasma membrane lipid content induce endocytosis to regulate developmental epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 119:e2212879119. Article Link.
• Piacentino ML, Hutchins EJ, and Bronner ME (2021). Essential function and targets of BMP signaling during midbrain neural crest delamination. Developmental Biology 477, 251-261. Article Link.
• Piacentino ML, Li Y, and Bronner ME (2020). Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and different migration strategies as viewed from the neural crest. Current Opinion in Cell Biology 66, 43-50. PMID: 32531659. Article Link.
• Soldatov R, Kaucka M, Kastriti ME, Petersen J, Chontorotzea T, Englmaier L, Akkuratova N, Yang Y, Haring M, Dyachuk V, Bock C, Farlik M, Piacentino ML, Boismoreau F, Hilscher MM, Yokota C, Qian X, Milsson M, Bronner ME, Croci L, Hsiao WY, Cuertin D, Brunet JF, Consalez GG, Enfors P, Fried K, Kharchenko PV, and Adameyko I (2019). Spatio-temporal structure of cell fate decisions in neural crest. Science 364(6444). pii: eaas9536. PMID: 31171666. Article Link.

Graduate Program Affiliations

Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology (BCMB)

Memberships

• Society for Developmental Biology (SDB)
• American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB)
• American Association for Anatomy (AAA)
• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
• Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM)