Rev. Nicanor Pier Giorgio Austriaco, O.P.
Molecular Microbiology and Genetics
Associate Professor
Education
S.T.L., Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception, 2005
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1996
B.S.E. University of Pennsylvania, 1989
Contact Information:
email: naustria@providence.edu
Phone: 401-865-1823 (office) x 1620 (lab)
Office: Sowa 229B
Lab website
Courses taught:
BIO103 General Biology I
BIO200 Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics
BIO308 Genetics
BIO475 Biology of Cancer
Research
Programmed cell death (PCD) is both an important physiological process and a significant anti-tumor defense mechanism in multicellular organisms. Human cells that bypass PCD in response to oncogenic stimuli can undergo malignant transformation and grow into tumors. The budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has served as a useful model for complex physiological processes of metazoan cells including programmed cell death. For the past six years, our laboratory at Providence College has investigated the genetics of cell death in both the yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans, focusing on biological processes, drugs, and genes involved in this fascinating biological phenomenon.
Recent Publications:
Cebulski, J., Malouin, J., Pinches, N., Cascio, V., and N. Austriaco, O.P. (2011) Yeast Bax Inhibitor, Bxi1p, is an ER-localized Protein that Links the Unfolded Protein Response and Programmed Cell Death in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. PLoS ONE 6(6): e20882. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0020882.
Ritch, J.J., Davidson, S.M., Sheehan, J.J., and N. Austriaco, O.P. (2010) The Saccharomyces SUN Gene, UTH1, is Involved in Cell Wall Biogenesis. FEMS Yeast Research, 10: 160-178.