On this page
The life cycle of sexually reproducing eukaryotes depends on two specialized chromosome segregation programs: mitosis and meiosis. Whereas mitosis drives cellular proliferation and the stable propagation of the genome, meiosis promotes genetic diversity and the formation of haploid gametes, which combine at fertilization to restore the diploid state. Remarkably, both genome stability and genetic diversity depend on the cell’s ability to repair damaged chromosomes using homologous recombination.
We study how cells rewire their DNA repair machinery in order to: 1) promote genetic diversity and haploidisation during meiosis; 2) prevent genomic instability - and cancer - during mitotic proliferation; 3) ensure the efficient disengagement of recombination intermediates prior chromosome segregation and cell division.
Our group uses a combination of approaches (cell biology, biochemistry and structural biology) and model systems (budding yeast, mouse and human tissue culture) to investigate how cells rewire DNA repair according to the specialized needs of mitotic proliferation and meiosis.
Joao Matos was born and raised in Portugal. He moved to Germany in 2003, to start his PhD work with Wolfgang Zachariae (MPI-CBG). In 2009, he moved to England, to carry out postdoctoral work with Stephen West (London Research Institute). In 2014, Joao was appointed Assistant Professor at the ETH, Switzerland. He joined the University of Vienna in 2020, as Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology.
Dr. Bohr-Gasse 9
1030 Vienna
Room: 5.024
+43-1-4277-74419
The Bloom (BLM) DNA helicase is an important enzyme in DNA repair and the maintenance of genome stability. Mutations in BLM are associated with Bloom’s Syndrome, a disease characterized by growth defects and increased susceptibility to cancer. In recent work published in Science Advances, we have elucidated how cells regulate the correct timing of BLM activity during the mitotic cell division program.
When the MUS81 DNA endonuclease is left uncontrolled in human cells, it breaks up chromosomes into tiny pieces. This is damaging to cells, but useful for killing tumours. We are trying to understand the underlying mechanism. (image credit: Jiradet Gloggnitzer)
Holliday Junctions are important DNA repair intermediates that form during meiosis. The junction is represented by a swiss bread specialty made from yeast dough. It is just about to be cut by the Yen1/GEN1 resolvase (hands and knife) to allow faithful segregation of the two chromosomes. The timing of the cut needs to be tightly regulated (wrist watch). (image credit: Meret Arter)
We have used affinity proteomics to characterize the composition and interaction landscape of 7 DNA repair enzymes during mitotic proliferation and meiosis. We reported a concerted and context-specific rewiring of the interactomes and reveal meiosis-specific network components with roles in crossing-over.
Anthropomorphic artistic illustration of the ‘powerful’ RecQ helicase Sgs1 (in blue) displacing the two DNA strands within a DNA molecule. (image credit: C. Matos).
Róbert Bodó
Diploma/Master Student +43-1-4277-56231
Room: 5.125/5.127
Felix Hartmann
PhD Student +43-1-4277-52862
Room: 5.125/5.127
Adrian Henggeler
PostDoc +43-1-4277-56231
Room: 5.122/5.123
Nataliia Kashko
PhD Student +43-1-4277-56231
Room: 5.122/5.123
Uladzislava Khauratovich
PhD Student +43-1-4277-56231
Room: 5.122/5.123
Joao Matos
Group Leader +43-1-4277-74419
Room: 5.024
Jazmin Nagy
PhD Student +43-1-4277-56231
Room: 5.122/5.123
Lucija Orlić
PhD Student +43-1-4277-56231
Room: 5.122/5.123
Nathan Palmer
PostDoc +43-1-4277-56231
Room: 5.122/5.123
Rajvi Patel
PhD Student +43-1-4277-56232
Room: 5.122/5.123
Anzhela Pavlova
PhD Student +43-1-4277-56231
Room: 5.122/5.123
Vasiliki Petroulaki
PhD Student +43-1-4277-56232
Room: 5.122/5.123
Daniel Velikov
Diploma/Master Student +43-1-4277-56231
Room: 5.122/5.123
Rahel Wettstein
Senior PostDoc +43-1-4277-56231
Room: 5.122/5.123
Martin Xaver
PostDoc +43-1-4277-56231
Room: 5.122/5.123
https://www.maxperutzlabs.ac.at/news/latest-news/l/new-funding-for-meiosis-research-100248
https://www.maxperutzlabs.ac.at/news/latest-news/l/getting-out-of-your-comfort-zone-1-100227
We are looking for talented, ambitious scientists at various levels. Postdoc, PhD and Master student positions are currently available. Please contact Joao and include a summary of previous research interests, a statement with your motivation to join our team, and the names of potential referees in your application.
The CDK1-TOPBP1-PLK1 axis regulates the Bloom's syndrome helicase BLM to suppress crossover recombination in somatic cells.
Balbo Pogliano, Chiara; Ceppi, Ilaria; Giovannini, Sara; Petroulaki, Vasiliki; Palmer, Nathan; Uliana, Federico; Gatti, Marco; Kasaciunaite, Kristina; Freire, Raimundo; Seidel, Ralf; Altmeyer, Matthias; Cejka, Petr; Matos, Joao
Regulation of the MLH1-MLH3 endonuclease in meiosis.
Cannavo, E; Sanchez, A; Anand, R; Ranjha, L; Hugener, J; Adam, C; Acharya, A; Weyland, N; Aran-Guiu, X; Charbonnier, J-B; Hoffmann, E R; Borde, V; Matos, J; Cejka, P
Phosphorylation of the RecQ Helicase Sgs1/BLM Controls Its DNA Unwinding Activity during Meiosis and Mitosis.
Grigaitis, R; Ranjha, L; Wild, P; Kasaciunaite, K; Ceppi, I; Kissling, V; Henggeler, A; Susperregui, A; Peter, M; Seidel, R; Cejka, P; Matos, J
Network Rewiring of Homologous Recombination Enzymes during Mitotic Proliferation and Meiosis.
Wild, P; Susperregui, A; Piazza, I; Dörig, C; Oke, A; Arter, M; Yamaguchi, M; Hilditch, A T; Vuina, K; Chan, K C; Gromova, T; Haber, J E; Fung, J C; Picotti, P; Matos, J
Regulated Crossing-Over Requires Inactivation of Yen1/GEN1 Resolvase during Meiotic Prophase I.
Arter, M; Hurtado-Nieves, V; Oke, A; Zhuge, T; Wettstein, R; Fung, J C; Blanco, M G; Matos, J
A Mechanism for Controlled Breakage of Under-replicated Chromosomes during Mitosis.
Duda, H; Arter, M; Gloggnitzer, J; Teloni, F; Wild, P; Blanco, M G; Altmeyer, M; Matos, J
Dual control of Yen1 nuclease activity and cellular localization by Cdk and Cdc14 prevents genome instability.
Blanco, Miguel G; Matos, Joao; West, Stephen C
Cell-cycle kinases coordinate the resolution of recombination intermediates with chromosome segregation.
Matos, Joao; Blanco, Miguel G; West, Stephen C
Regulatory control of the resolution of DNA recombination intermediates during meiosis and mitosis.
Matos, Joao; Blanco, Miguel G; Maslen, Sarah; Skehel, J Mark; West, Stephen C
Dbf4-dependent CDC7 kinase links DNA replication to the segregation of homologous chromosomes in meiosis I.
Matos, Joao; Lipp, Jesse J; Bogdanova, Aliona; Guillot, Sylvine; Okaz, Elwy; Junqueira, Magno; Shevchenko, Andrej; Zachariae, Wolfgang
Monopolar attachment of sister kinetochores at meiosis I requires casein kinase 1.
Petronczki, Mark; Matos, Joao; Mori, Saori; Gregan, Juraj; Bogdanova, Aliona; Schwickart, Martin; Mechtler, Karl; Shirahige, Katsuhiko; Zachariae, Wolfgang; Nasmyth, Kim
Phage therapy for treating bacterial infections: a double-edged sword
13:30 - 14:30
UBB - Lecture Hall 3Suckers and segments of the octopus arm
11:00 - 12:00 IMBA/GMI Lecture HallUsing the house mouse radiation to study the rapid evolution of genes and genetic processes
13:15 - 14:15 UBB - Lecture Hall 1CRISPR jumps ahead: mechanistic insights into CRISPR-associated transposons
11:30 - 12:30 Max Perutz Labs SR 1 (6th floor)SLiMs and SHelMs: Decoding how short linear and helical motifs direct PPP specificity to direct signaling
14:00 - 15:00 MFPL main building, 6th floor SR1/2Title to be announced
11:30 - 12:30 Max Perutz Labs SR 1 (6th floor)Enigmatic evolutionary origin and multipotency of the neural crest cells - major drivers of vertebrate evolution
13:15 - 14:15 UBB - Lecture Hall 1Visualising mitotic chromosomes and nuclear dynamics by correlative light and electron microscopy
11:30 - 12:30 Max Perutz Labs SR 1 (6th floor)Engineered nanocarriers for imaging of small proteins by CryoEM
11:00 - 12:00 GMI Orange Seminar RoomBacterial cell envelope homeostasis at the (post)transcriptional level
13:15 - 14:15 UBB - Lecture Hall 1Title to be announced
14:00 - 15:00 VBC5 Lecture Hall A+B/ZoomHydrologic extremes alter mechanisms and pathways of carbon export from mountainous floodplain soils
12:00 - 13:00 UBB - Lecture Hall 1Dissecting post-transcriptional gene expression regulation in humans and viruses
11:00 - 12:00 IMBA/GMI Lecture HallPrdm9 control of meiotic synapsis of homologs in intersubspecific hybrids
11:30 - 12:30 Max Perutz Labs SR 1 (6th floor)Polyploidy and rediploidisation in stressful times
13:15 - 14:15 UBB - Lecture Hall 1Title to be announced
14:00 - 15:00 VBC5 Lecture Hall A+B/ZoomRNA virus from museum specimens
13:15 - 14:15 UBB - Lecture Hall 1Programmed DNA double-strand breaks during meiosis: Mechanism and evolution
11:30 - 12:30 Max Perutz Labs SR 1 (6th floor)Title to be announced
11:00 - 12:00
