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Katharina Vestre

Postdoctoral Fellow - Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming

Email katharina.vestre@medisin.uio.no

Room K06.012

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Visiting address Radiumhospitalet Forskningsbygget (K)

Postal address Postboks 4950 0424 Oslo

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I have a PhD in cell biology from the Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, where I studied the role of Rab proteins in cell migration and division. Currently, I am a postdoc at  CanCell - Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming working on the MORGI project. I will investigate the molecular mechanisms of organ wasting in cancer cachexia using stem cell-derived organoids combined with various biochemical, molecular and cell biology techniques.

Teaching and science communication

I have been course responsible for the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences' course in Science Communication (MNKOM3000/4000) and currently contribute as a guest lecturer in the course. I have written three popular science books published in Norwegian at Aschehoug forlag. My first book is also available in English under the title The Making of You: A Journey from Cell to Human, read more here.

Vestre, Katharina; Persiconi, Irene; Distefano, Marita Borg; Mensali, Nadia; Guadagno, Noemi Antonella & Bretou, Marine [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2021). Rab7b regulates dendritic cell migration by linking lysosomes to the actomyosin cytoskeleton. Journal of Cell Science. ISSN 0021-9533. 134(18). doi: 10.1242/jcs.259221. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Lysosomal signaling facilitates the migration of immune cells by releasing calcium to activate the actin-based motor myosin II at the cell rear. However, how the actomyosin cytoskeleton physically associates to lysosomes is unknown. We have previously identified myosin II as a direct interactor of Rab7b, a small GTPase that mediates the transport from late endosomes/lysosomes to the TGN. Here, we show that Rab7b regulates the migration of dendritic cells (DCs) in 1- and 3-dimensional environments. DCs are immune sentinels that transport antigens from peripheral tissues to lymph nodes to activate T lymphocytes and initiate adaptive immune responses. We found that lack of Rab7b reduces myosin II light chain phosphorylation and the activation of the transcription factor EB (TFEB), which controls lysosomal signaling and is required for fast DC migration. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Rab7b interacts with the lysosomal calcium channel TRPML1, enabling the local activation of myosin II at the cell rear. Altogether, our findings identify Rab7b as the missing physical link between lysosomes and the actomyosin cytoskeleton, allowing control of immune cell migration through lysosomal signaling.
Vestre, Katharina; Kjos, Ingrid; Guadagno, Noemi Antonella; Distefano, Marita Borg; Kohler, Felix & Fenaroli, Federico [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2019). Rab6 regulates cell migration and invasion by recruiting Cdc42 and modulating its activity. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (CMLS). ISSN 1420-682X. 76(13), p. 2593–2614. doi: 10.1007/s00018-019-03057-w. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Rab proteins are master regulators of intracellular membrane trafficking, but they also contribute to cell division, signaling, polarization, and migration. The majority of the works describing the mechanisms used by Rab proteins to regulate cell motility involve intracellular transport of key molecules important for migration. Interestingly, a few studies indicate that Rabs can modulate the activity of Rho GTPases, important regulators for the cytoskeleton rearrangements, but the mechanisms behind this crosstalk are still poorly understood. In this work, we identify Rab6 as a negative regulator of cell migration in vitro and in vivo. We show that the loss of Rab6 promotes formation of actin protrusions and influences actomyosin dynamics by upregulating Cdc42 activity and downregulating myosin II phosphorylation. We further provide the molecular mechanism behind this regulation demonstrating that Rab6 interacts with both Cdc42 and Trio, a GEF for Cdc42. In sum, our results uncover a mechanism used by Rab proteins to ensure spatial regulation of Rho GTPase activity for coordination of cytoskeleton rearrangements required in migrating cells.
Kjos, Ingrid; Vestre, Katharina; Guadagno, Noemi Antonella; Distefano, Marita Borg & Progida, Cinzia (2018). Rab and Arf proteins at the crossroad between membrane transport and cytoskeleton dynamics. BBA - Molecular Cell Research. ISSN 0167-4889. 1865(10), p. 1397–1409. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2018.07.009. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The intracellular movement and positioning of organelles and vesicles is mediated by the cytoskeleton and molecular motors. Small GTPases like Rab and Arf proteins are main regulators of intracellular transport by connecting membranes to cytoskeleton motors or adaptors. However, it is becoming clear that interactions between these small GTPases and the cytoskeleton are important not only for the regulation of membrane transport. In this review, we will cover our current understanding of the mechanisms underlying the connection between Rab and Arf GTPases and the cytoskeleton, with special emphasis on the double role of these interactions, not only in membrane trafficking but also in membrane and cytoskeleton remodeling. Furthermore, we will highlight the most recent findings about the fine control mechanisms of crosstalk between different members of Rab, Arf, and Rho families of small GTPases in the regulation of cytoskeleton organization.

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Vestre, Katharina; Vestre, Linnea; Løken, Solveig Bua; Støstad, Hanna Nyborg & Nagel, Lisa Marie (2023). Naturens rekordbok. Aschehoug & Co. ISBN 9788203399695. 104 p. Full text in Research Archive
Vestre, Katharina & Vestre, Linnea (2020). Dyrenes rekordbok. Aschehoug & Co. ISBN 9788203265464. 82 p. Full text in Research Archive
Vestre, Katharina (2018). Det første mysteriet. Aschehoug & Co. ISBN 9788203297069. Full text in Research Archive

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Jemterud, Torkild; Roberts, Aubrey Jane; Sandve, Geir Kjetil Ferkingstad & Vestre, Katharina (2026). Hva er greia med hestesko? - Abels tårn - NRK Radio. [Radio]. NRK. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Når vet en stamcelle hva den skal bli? Hvordan belønne KI? Er jeg mer av min mormor enn av min mor? Hadde dinosaurene pandemier? Hvor fargeblinde er hunder?
Vestre, Katharina (2024). Vidunderlige nye organer. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 144(10). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.24.0351. Full text in Research Archive
Vestre, Katharina (2024). Frihet til å formidle. Full text in Research Archive
Vestre, Katharina (2024). X og y-kromosomer. [Radio]. Ekko NRK P2. Full text in Research Archive
Vestre, Katharina; Mossige, Joachim; Løvvik, Ole Martin & Jemterud, Torkild (2024). Abels tårn 12.1.2024. [Radio]. Abels tårn NRK P2. Full text in Research Archive
Jemterud, Torkild; Skogvoll, Vidar; Svalheim, Trygve Leithe & Vestre, Katharina (2023). Abels tårn - Er tid en illusjon? [Radio]. P2. Full text in Research Archive
Dietrichs, Erik Sveberg; Vestre, Katharina & Vereide, Emilie Hernes (2023). Abels Tårn. [Radio]. NRK P2. Full text in Research Archive
Jemterud, Torkild; Skogvoll, Vidar; Svalheim, Trygve Leithe & Vestre, Katharina (2023). Abels kjeller - Kosmisk krympflasjon, tid og Big Bang. [Radio]. P2. Full text in Research Archive
Joner, Erik; Vestre, Katharina; Skogvoll, Vidar & Jemterud, Torkild (2022). Abels tårn. [Radio]. Radio P2. Full text in Research Archive
Jemterud, Torkild; Sverdrup-Thygeson, Anne; Uggerud, Einar; Einevoll, Gaute; Joner, Erik & Skogvoll, Vidar [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2022). Abels tårn - Suicidale fluer og en ode til urin. Full text in Research Archive
Bøckman, Petter; Vestre, Katharina & Raklev, Are (2020). Abels tårn. [Radio]. Abels tårn, EKKO, NRK P2. Full text in Research Archive
Vestre, Katharina (2018). Oppskrift på flue. Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.). ISSN 0804-3116. Full text in Research Archive
Vestre, Katharina (2015). Det første mysteriet. Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.). ISSN 0804-3116. Full text in Research Archive

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Published Nov. 6, 2023 12:53 PM - Last modified Nov. 7, 2023 1:36 PM

Projects

Modeling Human Multi-Organ Interaction in Disease Cancer Cachexia (MORGI)