Dr. Carlos A. Torres Ramos
Contact Info
Education
- B.S. 1986, Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, PR
- M.S. 1989 , Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, PR
- Ph.D. 1996, Human Genectis and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
- Postdoc, 1999, Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
RESEARCH INTEREST
A central focus of my work is the base excision repair (BER) pathway and the role of key enzymes such as APE1 in sustaining mitochondrial homeostasis after genotoxic stress. I also examine how environmental factors impact mtDNA repair and mitochondrial signaling.
In addition, I am continuing the cardiovascular research program initiated by my late colleague, Dr. Sabzali Javadov, with a focus on the role of mitochondria in cardiac injury, particularly during ischemia-reperfusion (IR). Our studies investigate the interplay between regulated cell death pathways—including ferroptosis, apoptosis, necroptosis, and autophagy—and mitochondrial dysfunction, with the aim of identifying therapeutic targets for cardioprotection.
To address these questions, my laboratory utilizes Saccharomyces cerevisiae to investigate the core mechanisms of genome stability, which we then translate to mammalian systems, including human cell lines and mouse models. We utilize a range of experimental tools, including bioenergetics profiling (Seahorse XF), live-cell imaging, and, in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo models of human diseases, to elucidate the intersection of DNA repair and mitochondrial function in health and disease.
PAST STUDENTS
Carmen Pérez Pérez, PhD, 2022
Adlin Rodríguez, PhD, 2018
Joan Ballista Hernández, PhD, 2016
Yaría Arroyo, PhD, 2014
Ceidy Torres Ortíz, PhD, 2014
Karina Acevedo, PhD, 2009
CURRENT STUDENTS
Sabrina Correa (2026-expected)
Valeria Villarín (2026-expected)
SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATORS
Department of Physiology: Annabell C Segarra, PhD
Department of Pharmacology: Dr. Sylvette Ayala
PUBLICATIONS
• Forestier-Román IS, López-Rivas A, Sánchez-Vázquez MM, Rohena-Rivera K, Nieves-Burgos G, Ortiz-Zuazaga H, Torres-Ramos CA, Martínez-Ferrer M. Andrographolide induces DNA damage in prostate cancer cells. Oncotarget. 2019 Feb 1;10(10):1085-1101. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.26628. eCollection 2019 Feb 1. PubMed PMID: 30800220; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6383681.
• Ramírez Lugo JS, Torres-Ramos CA. Rebuilding Caribbean science. Science. 2017 Oct 13;358(6360):151. doi: 10.1126/science.aaq1210. Epub 2017 Oct 12. PubMed PMID: 29026018.
• Ballista-Hernández J, Martínez-Ferrer M, Vélez R, Climent C, Sánchez-Vázquez MM, Torres C, Rodríguez-Muñoz A, Ayala-Peña S, Torres-Ramos CA. Mitochondrial DNA Integrity Is Maintained by APE1 in Carcinogen-Induced Colorectal Cancer. Mol Cancer Res. 2017 Jul;15(7):831-841. doi: 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-16-0218. Epub 2017 Mar 30. PubMed PMID: 28360037; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5500394.
• Jansen RJ, Fonseca-Williams S, Bamlet WR, Ayala-Peña S, Oberg AL, Petersen GM, Torres-Ramos CA. Detection of DNA damage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from pancreatic cancer patients. Mol Carcinog. 2015 Oct;54(10):1220-6. doi: 10.1002/mc.22189. Epub 2014 Aug 11. PubMed PMID: 25111947; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4478243.
• Barreto-Torres G, Hernandez JS, Jang S, Rodríguez-Muñoz AR, Torres-Ramos CA, Basnakian AG, Javadov S. The beneficial effects of AMP kinase activation against oxidative stress are associated with prevention of PPARα-cyclophilin D interaction in cardiomyocytes. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2015 Apr 1;308(7):H749-58. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00414.2014. Epub 2015 Jan 23. PubMed PMID: 25617357; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4385997.
CWCS Workshop: Fundamentals of Mitochondrial Biochemistry, Genetics, and Molecular Biology
- Mitochondria Workshop 2011