Silvia Corvera MD
Title Professor
Institution University of Massachusetts Medical School
Department Program in Molecular Medicine
Address University of Massachusetts Medical School
373 Plantation Street
Worcester MA 01605
Email
Other Positions
Institution UMMS - School of Medicine
Department Cell Biology

Institution UMMS - Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Department Interdisciplinary Graduate Program

Institution UMMS - Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Department MD/PhD Program
Narrative

Academic Background

Silvia Corvera received her MD degree from the National University of Mexico in 1983, and a MSc in Biochemistry at the same institution in 1984. She received a Fogarty International Fellowship from the National Institutes of Health to perform Postdoctoral studies. Prior to joining the faculty at UMMS, she held the position of Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of adipose tissue development and function

The goal of my laboratory is to understand the cellular and molecular basis of adipose tissue function and its relationship to metabolic disease. Our most recent studies are focused on understanding the mechanisms of adipose tissue expansion during obesity in human adults. This process entails the hypertrophic growth of existing adipocytes, the differentiation of precursor cells to form new adipocytes, and the coordinate expansion of the adipose tissue capillary network. We believe that failure of any of these mechanisms can result in adipose tissue dysfunction, ectopic lipid deposition and metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes

A technological strength of our laboratory is the use of high throughput and high resolution imaging. We have collaborated extensively with the Biomedical Imaging Group at UMASS to develop microscopy platforms and analytical approaches to visualize growth factor signaling and endosomal trafficking pathways that are involved in adipocyte function and in establishing adipose tissue architecture.

Publications
1. Corvera S, Czech MP. Tensions rise and blood flows over dysfunctional fat. Circulation. 2011 Jul 5; 124(1):13-6.
  View in: PubMed
 
2. Gealekman O, Guseva N, Hartigan C, Apotheker S, Gorgoglione M, Gurav K, Tran KV, Straubhaar J, Nicoloro S, Czech MP, Thompson M, Perugini RA, Corvera S. Depot-specific differences and insufficient subcutaneous adipose tissue angiogenesis in human obesity. Circulation. 2011 Jan 18; 123(2):186-94.
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3. Burkart A, Shi X, Chouinard M, Corvera S. Adenylate kinase 2 links mitochondrial energy metabolism to the induction of the unfolded protein response. J Biol Chem. 2011 Feb 11; 286(6):4081-9.
  View in: PubMed
 
4. Stuffers S, Malerød L, Schink KO, Corvera S, Stenmark H, Brech A. Time-resolved ultrastructural detection of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate. J Histochem Cytochem. 2010 Nov; 58(11):1025-32.
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5. Mishra A, Eathiraj S, Corvera S, Lambright DG. Structural basis for Rab GTPase recognition and endosome tethering by the C2H2 zinc finger of Early Endosomal Autoantigen 1 (EEA1). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Jun 15; 107(24):10866-71.
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6. Walz HA, Shi X, Chouinard M, Bue CA, Navaroli DM, Hayakawa A, Zhou QL, Nadler J, Leonard DM, Corvera S. Isoform-specific regulation of Akt signaling by the endosomal protein WDFY2. J Biol Chem. 2010 May 7; 285(19):14101-8.
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7. Patti ME, Corvera S. The role of mitochondria in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Endocr Rev. 2010 Jun; 31(3):364-95.
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8. Leonard D, Hayakawa A, Lawe D, Lambright D, Bellve KD, Standley C, Lifshitz LM, Fogarty KE, Corvera S. Sorting of EGF and transferrin at the plasma membrane and by cargo-specific signaling to EEA1-enriched endosomes. J Cell Sci. 2008 Oct 15; 121(Pt 20):3445-58.
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9. Shi X, Burkart A, Nicoloro SM, Czech MP, Straubhaar J, Corvera S. Paradoxical effect of mitochondrial respiratory chain impairment on insulin signaling and glucose transport in adipose cells. J Biol Chem. 2008 Nov 7; 283(45):30658-67.
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10. Gealekman O, Burkart A, Chouinard M, Nicoloro SM, Straubhaar J, Corvera S. Enhanced angiogenesis in obesity and in response to PPARgamma activators through adipocyte VEGF and ANGPTL4 production. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Nov; 295(5):E1056-64.
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11. Puri V, Ranjit S, Konda S, Nicoloro SM, Straubhaar J, Chawla A, Chouinard M, Lin C, Burkart A, Corvera S, Perugini RA, Czech MP. Cidea is associated with lipid droplets and insulin sensitivity in humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Jun 3; 105(22):7833-8.
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12. Huang S, Lifshitz LM, Jones C, Bellve KD, Standley C, Fonseca S, Corvera S, Fogarty KE, Czech MP. Insulin stimulates membrane fusion and GLUT4 accumulation in clathrin coats on adipocyte plasma membranes. Mol Cell Biol. 2007 May; 27(9):3456-69.
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13. Hayakawa A, Hayes S, Leonard D, Lambright D, Corvera S. Evolutionarily conserved structural and functional roles of the FYVE domain. Biochem Soc Symp. 2007; (74):95-105.
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14. Corvera S, Burkart A, Kim JY, Christianson J, Wang Z, Scherer PE. Keystone meeting summary: 'Adipogenesis, obesity, and inflammation' and 'Diabetes mellitus and the control of cellular energy metabolism, ' January 21-26, 2006, Vancouver, Canada. Genes Dev. 2006 Aug 15; 20(16):2193-201.
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15. Hayakawa A, Leonard D, Murphy S, Hayes S, Soto M, Fogarty K, Standley C, Bellve K, Lambright D, Mello C, Corvera S. The WD40 and FYVE domain containing protein 2 defines a class of early endosomes necessary for endocytosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Aug 8; 103(32):11928-33.
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16. Bellve KD, Leonard D, Standley C, Lifshitz LM, Tuft RA, Hayakawa A, Corvera S, Fogarty KE. Plasma membrane domains specialized for clathrin-mediated endocytosis in primary cells. J Biol Chem. 2006 Jun 9; 281(23):16139-46.
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17. Wilson-Fritch L, Nicoloro S, Chouinard M, Lazar MA, Chui PC, Leszyk J, Straubhaar J, Czech MP, Corvera S. Mitochondrial remodeling in adipose tissue associated with obesity and treatment with rosiglitazone. J Clin Invest. 2004 Nov; 114(9):1281-9.
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18. Bose A, Robida S, Furcinitti PS, Chawla A, Fogarty K, Corvera S, Czech MP. Unconventional myosin Myo1c promotes membrane fusion in a regulated exocytic pathway. Mol Cell Biol. 2004 Jun; 24(12):5447-58.
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19. BlĂ¼her M, Wilson-Fritch L, Leszyk J, Laustsen PG, Corvera S, Kahn CR. Role of insulin action and cell size on protein expression patterns in adipocytes. J Biol Chem. 2004 Jul 23; 279(30):31902-9.
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20. Guilherme A, Soriano NA, Bose S, Holik J, Bose A, Pomerleau DP, Furcinitti P, Leszyk J, Corvera S, Czech MP. EHD2 and the novel EH domain binding protein EHBP1 couple endocytosis to the actin cytoskeleton. J Biol Chem. 2004 Mar 12; 279(11):10593-605.
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21. Hayakawa A, Hayes SJ, Lawe DC, Sudharshan E, Tuft R, Fogarty K, Lambright D, Corvera S. Structural basis for endosomal targeting by FYVE domains. J Biol Chem. 2004 Feb 13; 279(7):5958-66.
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22. Pandarpurkar M, Wilson-Fritch L, Corvera S, Markholst H, Hornum L, Greiner DL, Mordes JP, Rossini AA, Bortell R. Ian4 is required for mitochondrial integrity and T cell survival. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Sep 2; 100(18):10382-7.
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23. Lawe DC, Sitouah N, Hayes S, Chawla A, Virbasius JV, Tuft R, Fogarty K, Lifshitz L, Lambright D, Corvera S. Essential role of Ca2+/calmodulin in Early Endosome Antigen-1 localization. Mol Biol Cell. 2003 Jul; 14(7):2935-45.
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24. Burkart A, Samii B, Corvera S, Shpetner HS. Regulation of the SHP-2 tyrosine phosphatase by a novel cholesterol- and cell confluence-dependent mechanism. J Biol Chem. 2003 May 16; 278(20):18360-7.
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25. Wilson-Fritch L, Burkart A, Bell G, Mendelson K, Leszyk J, Nicoloro S, Czech M, Corvera S. Mitochondrial biogenesis and remodeling during adipogenesis and in response to the insulin sensitizer rosiglitazone. Mol Cell Biol. 2003 Feb; 23(3):1085-94.
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26. Hayes S, Chawla A, Corvera S. TGF beta receptor internalization into EEA1-enriched early endosomes: role in signaling to Smad2. J Cell Biol. 2002 Sep 30; 158(7):1239-49.
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27. Corvera S. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and the control of endosome dynamics: new players defined by structural motifs. Traffic. 2001 Dec; 2(12):859-66.
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28. Dumas JJ, Merithew E, Sudharshan E, Rajamani D, Hayes S, Lawe D, Corvera S, Lambright DG. Multivalent endosome targeting by homodimeric EEA1. Mol Cell. 2001 Nov; 8(5):947-58.
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29. Lawe DC, Chawla A, Merithew E, Dumas J, Carrington W, Fogarty K, Lifshitz L, Tuft R, Lambright D, Corvera S. Sequential roles for phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and Rab5 in tethering and fusion of early endosomes via their interaction with EEA1. J Biol Chem. 2002 Mar 8; 277(10):8611-7.
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30. Patki V, Buxton J, Chawla A, Lifshitz L, Fogarty K, Carrington W, Tuft R, Corvera S. Insulin action on GLUT4 traffic visualized in single 3T3-l1 adipocytes by using ultra-fast microscopy. Mol Biol Cell. 2001 Jan; 12(1):129-41.
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31. Corvera S, DiBonaventura C, Shpetner HS. Cell confluence-dependent remodeling of endothelial membranes mediated by cholesterol. J Biol Chem. 2000 Oct 6; 275(40):31414-21.
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32. Corvera S. Signal transduction: stuck with FYVE domains. Sci STKE. 2000 Jun 20; 2000(37):pe1.
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33. Lawe DC, Patki V, Heller-Harrison R, Lambright D, Corvera S. The FYVE domain of early endosome antigen 1 is required for both phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and Rab5 binding. Critical role of this dual interaction for endosomal localization. J Biol Chem. 2000 Feb 4; 275(5):3699-705.
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34. Corvera S, D'Arrigo A, Stenmark H. Phosphoinositides in membrane traffic. Curr Opin Cell Biol. 1999 Aug; 11(4):460-5.
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35. Czech MP, Corvera S. Signaling mechanisms that regulate glucose transport. J Biol Chem. 1999 Jan 22; 274(4):1865-8.
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36. Corvera S, Czech MP. Direct targets of phosphoinositide 3-kinase products in membrane traffic and signal transduction. Trends Cell Biol. 1998 Nov; 8(11):442-6.
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37. Patki V, Lawe DC, Corvera S, Virbasius JV, Chawla A. A functional PtdIns(3)P-binding motif. Nature. 1998 Jul 30; 394(6692):433-4.
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38. Patki V, Virbasius J, Lane WS, Toh BH, Shpetner HS, Corvera S. Identification of an early endosomal protein regulated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997 Jul 8; 94(14):7326-30.
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39. Hartley D, Corvera S. Formation of c-Cbl.phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complexes on lymphocyte membranes by a p56lck-independent mechanism. J Biol Chem. 1996 Sep 6; 271(36):21939-43.
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40. Shpetner H, Joly M, Hartley D, Corvera S. Potential sites of PI-3 kinase function in the endocytic pathway revealed by the PI-3 kinase inhibitor, wortmannin. J Cell Biol. 1996 Feb; 132(4):595-605.
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41. Hartley D, Meisner H, Corvera S. Specific association of the beta isoform of the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase with the proto-oncogene c-cbl. J Biol Chem. 1995 Aug 4; 270(31):18260-3.
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42. Joly M, Kazlauskas A, Corvera S. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity is required at a postendocytic step in platelet-derived growth factor receptor trafficking. J Biol Chem. 1995 Jun 2; 270(22):13225-30.
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43. Corvera S, Chawla A, Chakrabarti R, Joly M, Buxton J, Czech MP. A double leucine within the GLUT4 glucose transporter COOH-terminal domain functions as an endocytosis signal. J Cell Biol. 1994 Sep; 126(6):1625.
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44. Corvera S, Chawla A, Chakrabarti R, Joly M, Buxton J, Czech MP. A double leucine within the GLUT4 glucose transporter COOH-terminal domain functions as an endocytosis signal. J Cell Biol. 1994 Aug; 126(4):979-89.
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45. Joly M, Kazlauskas A, Fay FS, Corvera S. Disruption of PDGF receptor trafficking by mutation of its PI-3 kinase binding sites. Science. 1994 Feb 4; 263(5147):684-7.
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46. Czech MP, Chawla A, Woon CW, Buxton J, Armoni M, Tang W, Joly M, Corvera S. Exofacial epitope-tagged glucose transporter chimeras reveal COOH-terminal sequences governing cellular localization. J Cell Biol. 1993 Oct; 123(1):127-35.
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47. Chakrabarti R, Joly M, Corvera S. Redistribution of clathrin-coated vesicle adaptor complexes during adipocytic differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. J Cell Biol. 1993 Oct; 123(1):79-87.
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48. Kapeller R, Chakrabarti R, Cantley L, Fay F, Corvera S. Internalization of activated platelet-derived growth factor receptor-phosphatidylinositol-3' kinase complexes: potential interactions with the microtubule cytoskeleton. Mol Cell Biol. 1993 Oct; 13(10):6052-63.
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49. Corvera S, Jaspers S, Pasceri M. Acute inhibition of insulin-stimulated glucose transport by the phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid. J Biol Chem. 1991 May 15; 266(14):9271-5.
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50. Corvera S. Insulin stimulates the assembly of cytosolic clathrin onto adipocyte plasma membranes. J Biol Chem. 1990 Feb 15; 265(5):2413-6.
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Keyword
Last Name
Institution
    
 
 
 
Keywords   
Endosomes
Mitochondria
Signal Transduction
Endocytosis
Cell Membrane
See all (284) keywords
Co-Authors  
Chawla, Anil
Czech, Michael
Fogarty, Kevin
Lambright, David
Straubhaar, Juerg
See all (19) people
Physical Neighbors  
Guilherme, Adilson
Jurczyk, Agata
Peterson, Craig
Soto Villatoro, Ernesto
Clapham, Paul

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