First person – Patrícia Rodrigues Free

Patrícia Rodrigues

How would you explain the main findings of your paper in lay terms?

Our skin is composed of a complex epithelial tissue − the epidermis − that acts as a protective barrier between the internal and external environment. When injured, the skin uses a complex mechanism repair itself. However, wound repair in simpler epithelial tissues, for example the lining of our gut or the embryonic epidermis, is very efficient (completed in less than one hour). To do this, cells around the wound rearrange themselves and generate forces that drive wound closure. In our research, we used the simple epithelium of the fruit fly embryo to discover that a molecule called Dachsous, which helps cells align in a particular direction (similar to how hairs in our skin grow in the same direction), plays a key role in wound healing. When Dachsous is missing, cells struggle to rearrange properly, and wounds take much longer to close. We also found that another cell structure called the occluding junction helps position Dachsous correctly. The unexpected link between these two systems gives us new insights into how epithelial tissues repair themselves.

Were there any specific challenges associated with this project? If so, how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges was detecting the localization of the endogenous fluorescently tagged Dachsous protein before and during wound healing, because its signal was very weak and close to our detection limit. This made it difficult for us to track its dynamics over time using time-lapse imaging. To overcome this, we used immunostaining in fixed embryos with Airyscan confocal microscopy and spent a lot of time fine tuning our imaging settings. Another challenge was combining different alleles and transgenic reporters in the same fly. Some mutants and transgenic combinations were not viable, very sick or barely reproduced, making experiments difficult. To overcome this, in some cases we worked with hypomorphic mutations that allowed us to maintain viable flies and embryos.

When doing the research, did you have a particular result or ‘eureka’ moment that has stuck with you?

During this research, there were a couple of results that fascinated us. A particularly exciting moment was when we noticed that in kune mutants, which lack a core component of occluding junctions, the Dachsous protein was more evenly distributed along the apical-basal membranes of cells. This told us that occluding junctions regulate the apical localization of this protein. The connection between these two elements inspired the hypothesis that started this whole project, so for me this was really a ‘eureka’ moment.

Why did you choose Journal of Cell Science for your paper?

JCS is a well-established journal with a strong focus on cell biology and a readership that includes researchers interested in tissue morphogenesis, mechanics and repair, making it an ideal platform to share our findings. Also, many studies that inspired our work were published here and we highly value JCS's efforts in fostering discussion and in promoting science within the community and beyond.

Have you had any significant mentors who have helped you beyond supervision in the lab? How was their guidance special?

My supervisor Lara Carvalho was the best mentor that I could ask for. I was a very anxious and an insecure young student when we started this project, and she was always available for me and patient with me. I was also very lucky to be part of such an amazing lab that also contributed to my peace of mind with coffee and chocolate during breaks.

What motivated you to pursue a career in science, and what have been the most interesting moments on the path that led you to where you are now?

During my senior year in high school, we visited the Gulbenkian Institute of Science. They offered us some flies to do genetic crosses and a researcher gave a talk about a project using fruit flies that really amazed me. I decided to follow his path and earn a bachelor's degree in biochemistry. Over time, I found that I preferred the biology part, so I enrolled in the Molecular Biology and Genetics master's degree program where I chose to work with flies, once again inspired by that talk. After finishing my masters, looking for a job was very complicated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I applied to a job offer available on the Portuguese employment center without knowing the details, as it did not specify the location or position. The funny thing is, I ended up at the very institute where the researcher that motivated me had worked, doing what I had fallen in love with during my master thesis – microscopy.

Who are your role models in science? Why?

I could say names like Marie Curie and Charles Darwin, who always have been figures that I admired; however, for me, role models need to be people that I can see in action and influence me to be a good scientist. Those people in my life are my mentors, Lara Carvalho, who is incredibly smart, determined and efficient, and Gabriel Martins, who can find solutions for any problem and throw at me the most unthinkable challenges.

What's next for you?

Nowadays, I'm no longer a researcher. During this project, I fell in love with the microscopy field and I'm currently working on a bioimaging platform at the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine. This position is the best way to stay connected to academia and be involved in research without having to worry about results. I'm still involved in projects from time to time, which is fantastic because it allows me to be part of the biological field.

Tell us something interesting about yourself that wouldn't be on your CV

I really like puzzles, Lego and books.