Luis De La Torre-Ubieta, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Lab Website

Biography:

 

Dr. de la Torre-Ubieta performed his undergraduate studies at the University of Puerto Rico and obtained his doctoral degree in Neurobiology from Harvard University studying cell-intrinsic mechanisms regulating neuronal morphogenesis. He then went on to pursue postdoctoral studies at UCLA in the Geschwind laboratory where he employed computational and molecular approaches to study human cortical neurogenesis. His work focused on developing and characterizing in vitro models of human brain development and elucidating signaling and gene-regulatory mechanisms operating in the developing human neocortex. His research has been funded through individual awards by the NIH, CIRM, and the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, and is an Albert J. Ryan Foundation Fellow. Prof. de la Torre-Ubieta is also an avid microscopist and received a Wellcome Trust Image Award for his work imaging cleared mouse brains.

 

Publications

A selected list of publications:

de la Torre-Ubieta Luis, Stein Jason L, Won Hyejung, Opland Carli K, Liang Dan, Lu Daning, Geschwind Daniel H   The Dynamic Landscape of Open Chromatin during Human Cortical Neurogenesis Cell, 2018; 172(1-2): 289-304.e18.
Watanabe Momoko, Buth Jessie E, Vishlaghi Neda, de la Torre-Ubieta Luis, Taxidis Jiannis, Khakh Baljit S, Coppola Giovanni, Pearson Caroline A, Yamauchi Ken, Gong Danyang, Dai Xinghong, Damoiseaux Robert, Aliyari Roghiyh, Liebscher Simone, Schenke-Layland Katja, Caneda Christine, Huang Eric J, Zhang Ye, Cheng Genhong, Geschwind Daniel H, Golshani Peyman, Sun Ren, Novitch Bennett G   Self-Organized Cerebral Organoids with Human-Specific Features Predict Effective Drugs to Combat Zika Virus Infection Cell reports, 2017; 21(2): 517-532.
Parikshak Neelroop N, Swarup Vivek, Belgard T Grant, Irimia Manuel, Ramaswami Gokul, Gandal Michael J, Hartl Christopher, Leppa Virpi, Ubieta Luis de la Torre, Huang Jerry, Lowe Jennifer K, Blencowe Benjamin J, Horvath Steve, Geschwind Daniel H   Genome-wide changes in lncRNA, splicing, and regional gene expression patterns in autism Nature, 2016; 540(7633): 423-427.
Won Hyejung, de la Torre-Ubieta Luis, Stein Jason L, Parikshak Neelroop N, Huang Jerry, Opland Carli K, Gandal Michael J, Sutton Gavin J, Hormozdiari Farhad, Lu Daning, Lee Changhoon, Eskin Eleazar, Voineagu Irina, Ernst Jason, Geschwind Daniel H   Chromosome conformation elucidates regulatory relationships in developing human brain Nature, 2016; 538(7626): 523-527.
Chiocchetti A G, Haslinger D, Stein J L, de la Torre-Ubieta L, Cocchi E, Rothämel T, Lindlar S, Waltes R, Fulda S, Geschwind D H, Freitag C M   Transcriptomic signatures of neuronal differentiation and their association with risk genes for autism spectrum and related neuropsychiatric disorders Translational psychiatry, 2016; 6(8): e864.
de la Torre-Ubieta Luis, Won Hyejung, Stein Jason L, Geschwind Daniel H   Advancing the understanding of autism disease mechanisms through genetics Nature medicine, 2016; 22(4): 345-61.
Smith Imogen, Silveirinha Vasco, Stein Jason L, de la Torre-Ubieta Luis, Farrimond Jonathan A, Williamson Elizabeth M, Whalley Benjamin J   Human neural stem cell-derived cultures in three-dimensional substrates form spontaneously functional neuronal networks Journal of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, 2015; .
Stein Jason L, de la Torre-Ubieta Luis, Tian Yuan, Parikshak Neelroop N, Hernández Israel A, Marchetto Maria C, Baker Dylan K, Lu Daning, Hinman Cassidy R, Lowe Jennifer K, Wexler Eric M, Muotri Alysson R, Gage Fred H, Kosik Kenneth S, Geschwind Daniel H   A quantitative framework to evaluate modeling of cortical development by neural stem cells Neuron, 2014; 83(1): 69-86.
Mejia Luis A, Litterman Nadia, Ikeuchi Yoshiho, de la Torre-Ubieta Luis, Bennett Eric J, Zhang Chi, Harper J Wade, Bonni Azad   A novel Hap1-Tsc1 interaction regulates neuronal mTORC1 signaling and morphogenesis in the brain The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2013; 33(46): 18015-21.
Ikeuchi Yoshiho, de la Torre-Ubieta Luis, Matsuda Takahiko, Steen Hanno, Okazawa Hitoshi, Bonni Azad   The XLID protein PQBP1 and the GTPase Dynamin 2 define a signaling link that orchestrates ciliary morphogenesis in postmitotic neurons Cell reports, 2013; 4(5): 879-89.
Salih Dervis A M, Rashid Asim J, Colas Damien, de la Torre-Ubieta Luis, Zhu Ruo P, Morgan Alexander A, Santo Evan E, Ucar Duygu, Devarajan Keerthana, Cole Christina J, Madison Daniel V, Shamloo Mehrdad, Butte Atul J, Bonni Azad, Josselyn Sheena A, Brunet Anne   FoxO6 regulates memory consolidation and synaptic function Genes & development, 2012; 26(24): 2780-801.
Christensen Ryan, de la Torre-Ubieta Luis, Bonni Azad, Colón-Ramos Daniel A   A conserved PTEN/FOXO pathway regulates neuronal morphology during C. elegans development Development (Cambridge, England), 2011; 138(23): 5257-67.
de la Torre-Ubieta Luis, Bonni Azad   Transcriptional regulation of neuronal polarity and morphogenesis in the mammalian brain Neuron, 2011; 72(1): 22-40.
Huynh Mai Anh, Ikeuchi Yoshiho, Netherton Stuart, de la Torre-Ubieta Luis, Kanadia Rahul, Stegmüller Judith, Cepko Constance, Bonni Shirin, Bonni Azad   An isoform-specific SnoN1-FOXO1 repressor complex controls neuronal morphogenesis and positioning in the mammalian brain Neuron, 2011; 69(5): 930-44.
Bilimoria Parizad M, de la Torre-Ubieta Luis, Ikeuchi Yoshiho, Becker Esther B E, Reiner Orly, Bonni Azad   A JIP3-regulated GSK3β/DCX signaling pathway restricts axon branching The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2010; 30(50): 16766-76.
de la Torre-Ubieta Luis, Gaudillière Brice, Yang Yue, Ikeuchi Yoshiho, Yamada Tomoko, DiBacco Sara, Stegmüller Judith, Schüller Ulrich, Salih Dervis A, Rowitch David, Brunet Anne, Bonni Azad   A FOXO-Pak1 transcriptional pathway controls neuronal polarity Genes & development, 2010; 24(8): 799-813.
de la Torre-Ubieta Luis, Bonni Azad   Combinatorial assembly of neurons: from chromatin to dendrites Trends in cell biology, 2008; 18(2): 48-51.
Iwase Shigeki, Lan Fei, Bayliss Peter, de la Torre-Ubieta Luis, Huarte Maite, Qi Hank H, Whetstine Johnathan R, Bonni Azad, Roberts Thomas M, Shi Yang   The X-linked mental retardation gene SMCX/JARID1C defines a family of histone H3 lysine 4 demethylases Cell, 2007; 128(6): 1077-88.
Lasorella Anna, Stegmüller Judith, Guardavaccaro Daniele, Liu Guangchao, Carro Maria S, Rothschild Gerson, de la Torre-Ubieta Luis, Pagano Michele, Bonni Azad, Iavarone Antonio   Degradation of Id2 by the anaphase-promoting complex couples cell cycle exit and axonal growth Nature, 2006; 442(7101): 471-4.