Faculty & Staff

Headshot of Dr.Omar Quintero-Carmona

Dr. Omar Quintero-Carmona

Associate Professor of Biology
  • Profile

    I am interested in the dynamic nature of cells and the molecular processes that underlie cellular functions. Cells contain a complex network of proteins (known as the cytoskeleton) that enable cells to organize internal components as well as to determine shape and to move. Currently, I am focused on examining the role of cytoskeletal elements in both intracellular dynamics and in whole cell motility. I am particularly interested in the roles of myosin motors in intracellular transport, and in in the regulation of actin-based structures. My research group utilizes multiple techniques to examine these processes at multiple levels of organization. This includes protein sequence analysis, biochemical/biophysical studies of purified proteins, and whole-cell quantitative microscopic approaches. Through these studies we hope to better understand cellular function and the roles of these proteins in health and disease.

  • Selected Publications
    Journal Articles

    Mecklenburg, K., Freed, S.A., Raval, M., Quintero, O.A., Yengo, C.M., and O’Tousa, J.E. (2015). Invertebrate and vertebrate class III myosins interact with MORN repeat-containing adaptor proteins. PLoS ONE 10(3): e0122502. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0122502

    Rohn, J.L., Patel, J.V., Neumann, B., Bulkescher, J., McHedlishvili, N., *McMullan, R., Quintero, O.A., Ellenberg, J., and Baum, B. (2014). MYO19 ensures symmetric partitioning of mitochondria and coupling of mitochondrial segregation to cell division. Current Biology, 24:2598-605. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.09.045

    Quintero, O.A., Unrath, W. C., Stevens Jr., S.M., Manor, U., Kachar, B., and Yengo, C.M. (2013). Myosin 3A kinase activity is regulated by phosphorylation of the kinase domain activation loop. J Biol Chem, 288(52):37126-37. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M113.511014

    Adikes, R.C., Unrath, W. C., Yengo, C. M., and Quintero, O. A. (2013). Biochemical and bioinformatic analysis of the MYO19 motor domain. Cytoskeleton, 70(5):281-95. doi: 10.1002/cm.21110. Chosen as the journal cover article.

    Quintero, O. A. and Yengo, C. M. (2012). Myosin X dimerization and its impact on cellular functions. PNAS 109(43):17313-4. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1216035109.

    Merritt, R.C., Manor, U., Salles, F.T., Grati, M., Dose, A.C., Unrath, W.C., Quintero, O.A., Yengo, C.M., and Kachar, B. (2012). Myosin IIIB uses an actin-binding motif in its Espin-1 cargo to reach the tips of actin protrusions. Curr. Biol. 22(4):320-5.

    Phelps, D.S., Umstead, T.M., Quintero, O.A., Yengo, C.M., and Floros, J. (2011). In vivo rescue of alveolar macrophages from SP-A knockout mice with exogenous SP-A nearly restores a wild type intracellular proteome; actin involvement. Proteome Sci 9:67 doi:10.1186/1477-5956-9-67.

    Quintero, O. A., Moore, J. E., Unrath, W. C., Manor, U., Salles, F. T., M’hamed, G., Kachar, B., and Yengo, C. M. (2010). Intermolecular autophosphorylation regulates myosin IIIA motor activity and localization in parallel actin bundles. J Biol. Chem. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.144360. Chosen as the journal cover article.

    Quintero, O. A., DiVito, M. M., *Adikes R.C., *Kortan, M. B., *Case, L. B., *Lier, A. J., *Panaretos, N. S., *Slater, S. Q., Rengarajan, M., *Feliu, M. and Cheney, R. E. (2009). Human Myo19 is a novel myosin that associates with mitochondria. Curr. Biol. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2009.10.026.

    Kerber, M. L., Jacobs, D. T., Campagnola, L., Dunn B.D., Yin, T., Sousa A.D., Quintero, O.A. and Cheney, R. E. (2009). A novel form of motility in filopodia revealed by imaging myosin-X at the single molecule level. Curr. Biol. 19(11):967-73.

    Sigal, Y. J., Quintero, O. A., Cheney, R. E., and Morris, A. J. (2007). Cdc42 and ARP2/3-independent regulation of filopodia by an integral membrane lipid-phosphatase-related protein. J Cell Sci. 120:340-52.

    Quintero, O. A., Korfhagen, T. R., Wright, J. R. (2002). Surfactant protein A regulates surfactant phospholipid clearance after LPS-induced injury in vivo. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 283:L76-85.

    Quintero, O. A., Wright, J. R. (2002). Clearance of surfactant lipids by neutrophils and macrophages isolated from the acutely inflamed lung. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 282:L330-9.

    Quintero, O. A., Wright, J. R. (2000). Metabolism of phosphatidylglycerol by alveolar macrophages in vitro. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 297:L399-L407.

    Book Chapters

    Applewhite DA, Davis CA, Griffis ER, Quintero OA.(2015). Imaging of the Cytoskeleton Using Live and Fixed Drosophila Tissue Culture Cells. Invited chapter in: Cytoskeleton Methods and Protocols, 3rd Edition. pp83-97. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3124-8_4.

    Quintero, O. A., Moore, J. E., and Yengo, C. M. (2012). Basics of the Cytoskeleton: Myosins. Invited chapter in: The Cytoskeleton and Human Disease. pp73-100. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-788-0_4