Benjamin Podbilewicz

1991 Ph.D. in Cell Biology. Yale University, USA. “Reconstitution of receptor-mediated endocytosis and recycling of transferrin in permeabilized cells”. Doctoral thesis. Yale University. USA. pp. 185. 1991. Ira Mellman’s lab.

1986 B.Sc. in Chemistry, Bacteriology and Parasitology. Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN). Mexico City, Mexico. “Partial reactions of the oxygenic photosynthesis in Spirulina maxima. Use of specific inhibitors of the b/f segment”. Research Thesis. National School for Biological Sciences IPN. Mexico. pp. 122. 1986. Carlos Gomez Lojero’s lab.

Cell fusion is essential for gamete merger and organ formation. We pioneered cell fusion studies in C. elegans and discovered the first developmental cell fusion-mediating protein (fusogen) EFF-1 and showed that it acts bilaterally. We subsequently discovered AFF-1 whose action is restricted to specific fusion events. Moreover, EFF-1 and AFF-1 can replace viral fusion proteins demonstrating they are authentic fusogens. We determined the crystal structure of EFF-1 trimers, revealing high structural similarity to class II viral fusogens. Our lab found that EFF-1 and AFF-1 participate in maintaining the structure and regenerating injured dendritic trees in highly branched neurons. We coined the term “menorah” for a repetitive structural unit in polymodal neurons that sense noxious stimuli and study dendritic arborization in C. elegans. We have studied how dendritic menorahs age and ways to rejuvenate them using fusogens.

• 2020 Margaret Mosenfelder Harris Academic Chair in Science
• 2020 Career award, Israeli Society for Developmental Biology
• 2012 Grass Fellow, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University, USA.

Applications from suitable MSc, PhD and postdoc candidates are welcome anytime.