Roberto Mayor

Full Professor


Roberto Mayor is a distinguished developmental biologist renowned for his pioneering research in cell migration and its role in embryonic development. Born in Chile, he pursued his undergraduate and completed his PhD in Chile working on mouse embryo development. Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Mayor embarked on postdoctoral research at The National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdom, where he delved deeper into the molecular and cellular dynamics of neural crest development.

Throughout his career, Dr. Mayor has published extensively in prestigious scientific journals, contributing seminal papers that have advanced the field of developmental biology. His work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, such as International Scholar of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) member, Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (UK) and member of the Latin American Academy of Sciences. He is Editor in Chief of the journals Cells & Development and Gene Expression Patterns.

In addition to his research, Dr. Mayor is a dedicated educator and mentor, committed to training the next generation of scientists. He has supervised numerous Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in academia. His passion for teaching and mentorship is evident in his involvement with various scientific societies and his participation in international courses.

In the early 2000s, Dr. Mayor joined University College London (UCL), where he is currently Professor of Developmental and Cellular Neurobiology. He has a secondary affiliation as full professor at Universidad Mayor, Chile. His research has elucidated the intricate signaling pathways and mechanical forces that guide cells to their correct positions in the developing embryo, providing insights that have implications beyond developmental biology, extending to cancer research and tissue engineering.

Emails

roberto.mayor@umayor.cl

r.mayor@ucl.ac.uk

Websites

https://mayorlab-ucl.webflow.io

https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/3054-roberto-mayor


PUBLICATIONS

  • Alasaadi DN, Alvizi L, Hartmann J, Stillman N, Moghe P, Hiiragi T and Mayor R (2024). Competence for neural crest induction is controlled by hydrostatic pressure through Yap. Nature Cell Biology. 26, :530-541
  • Alasaadi DN, Mayor R. (2024). Mechanically guided cell fate determination in early development. Cell Mol Life Sci. 81, 242
  • Alvizi L, Nani D, Brito LA, Kobayashi GS, Passos-Bueno MR, Mayor R. (2023). Neural crest E-cadherin loss drives cleft lip/palate by epigenetic modulation via pro-inflammatory gene-environment interaction. Nature Commun. 14(1):2868
  • Le HA, Mayor R. (2023). Cell-matrix and cell-cell interaction mechanics in guiding migration. Biochem Soc Trans. 2023 Aug 31;51(4):1733-1745
  • Shellard A, Mayor R. (2023). Sculpting with stiffness: rigidity as a regulator of morphogenesis. Biochem Soc Trans. 51(3):1009-1021
  • Stillman NR, Mayor R. (2023). Generative models of morphogenesis in developmental biology. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 147:83-90
  • Barriga EH, Alasaadi DN, Mencarelli C, Mayor R, Pichaud F. (2022). RanBP1 plays an essential role in directed migration of neural crest cells during development. Dev Biol. 492:79-86
  • Hartmann J, Mayor R. (2022). Self-organized collective cell behaviors as design principles for synthetic developmental biology. Semin Cell Dev Biol. S1084-9521(22)00136-7
  • Canales Coutiño B, Mayor R. (2022). Neural crest mechanosensors: Seeing old proteins in a new light. Dev Cell. S1534-5807(22)00494-4
  • Shellard A, Mayor R. (2021). Collective durotaxis along a self-generated stiffness gradient in vivo. Nature. 600, 690-694
  • Canales Coutiño B, Mayor R. (2021). The mechanosensitive channel Piezo1 cooperates with semaphorins to control neural crest migration. Development. 148, dev200001
  • Shellard A, Mayor R. (2021). Durotaxis: The Hard Path from In Vitro to In Vivo. Dev Cell. 56, 227-239. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.11.019
  • Canales Coutiño B, Mayor R. (2021). Mechanosensitive ion channels in cell migration. Cells Dev.166, 203683
  • Shellard A, Mayor R. (2020). All Roads Lead to Directional Cell Migration. Trends Cell Biol. S0962-8924(20)30149-5. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2020.08.002
  • Mayor R. (2020). 20 years of the Practical Course of Developmental Biology in Latin America: From Santiago to Quintay, via Juquehy, Buenos Aires and Montevideo. Int J Dev Biol. doi: 10.1387/ijdb.200049rm
  • Shellard A, Mayor R. (2020). Rules of collective migration: from the wildebeest to the neural crest. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 375(1807):20190387.
  • Cao L, Yonis A, Vaghela M, Barriga EH, Chugh P, Smith MB, Maufront J, Lavoie G, Méant A, Ferber E, Bovellan M, Alberts A, Bertin A, Mayor R, Paluch EK, Roux PP, Jégou A, Romet-Lemonne G, Charras G. (2020). SPIN90 associates with mDia1 and the Arp2/3 complex to regulate cortical actin organization. Nature Cell Biol. 22, 803-814.
  • Yang J, Antin P, Berx G, Blanpain C, Brabletz T, Bronner M, Campbell K, Cano A, Casanova J, Christofori G, Dedhar S, Derynck R, Ford HL, Fuxe J, García de Herreros A, Goodall GJ, Hadjantonakis AK, Huang RJY, Kalcheim C, Kalluri R, Kang Y, Khew-Goodall Y, Levine H, Liu J, Longmore GD, Mani SA, Massagué J, Mayor R, McClay D, Mostov KE, Newgreen DF, Nieto MA, Puisieux A, Runyan R, Savagner P, Stanger B, Stemmler MP, Takahashi Y, Takeichi M, Theveneau E, Thiery JP, Thompson EW, Weinberg RA, Williams ED, Xing J, Zhou BP, Sheng G. (2020). Guidelines and definitions for research on epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Nature Rev Mol Cell Biol. 21(6):341-352
  • Ollech D, Pflästerer T, Shellard A, Zambarda C, Spatz JP, Marcq P, Mayor R, Wombacher R, Cavalcanti-Adam EA. (2020). An optochemical tool for light-induced dissociation of adherens junctions to control mechanical coupling between cells. Nature Commun. 1(1):472
  • Mayor R. (2019). Cell fate decisions during development. Science. 364, 937-938
  • Shellard A, Mayor R. (2019). Integrating chemical and mechanical signals in neural crest cell migration. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 57, 16-24
  • Szabó A, Theveneau E, Turan M, Mayor R. (2019). Neural crest streaming as an emergent property of tissue interactions during morphogenesis. PLoS Comput Biol. 15(4):e1007002
  • Shellard A, Mayor R. (2019). Supracellular migration - beyond collective cell migration. J Cell Sci. 132(8). pii: jcs226142
  • Bajanca F, Gouignard N, Colle C, Parsons M, Mayor R, Theveneau E. (2019). In vivo topology converts competition for cell-matrix adhesion into directional migration. Nat Commun. 10(1):1518
  • Mayor R. (2019). Collective Cell Migration: Wisdom of the Crowds Transforms a Negative Cue into a Positive One. Curr Biol. 29, R205-R207
  • Barriga EH, Shellard A, Mayor R. (2019). In Vivo and In Vitro Quantitative Analysis of Neural Crest Cell Migration. Methods Mol Biol. 1976:135-152
  • Szabó A, Mayor R. (2018). Mechanisms of Neural Crest Migration. Annu Rev Genet. 52:43-63
  • Toro-Tapia G, Villaseca S, Beyer A, Roycroft A, Marcellini S, Mayor R*, Torrejón M*. (2018). The Ric-8A/Gα13/FAK signalling cascade controls focal adhesion formation during neural crest cell migration in Xenopus. Development. 145, 1-12. *co-corresponding authors
  • Shellard A, Szabó A, Trepat X, Mayor R. (2018). Supracellular contraction at the rear of neural crest cell groups drives collective chemotaxis. Science. 362, 339-343
  • Kotini M, Barriga EH, Leslie J, Gentzel M, Rauschenberger V, Schambony A, Mayor R. (2018). Gap junction protein Connexin-43 is a direct transcriptional regulator of N-cadherin in vivo. Nat Commun. 9(1):3846
  • Roycroft A, Szabó A, Bahm I, Daly L, Charras G, Parsons M, Mayor R. (2018). Redistribution of Adhesive Forces through Src/FAK Drives Contact Inhibition of Locomotion in Neural Crest. Dev Cell. 45, 565-579
  • Barriga EH, Mayor R. (2018). Adjustable viscoelasticity allows for efficient collective cell migration. Semin Cell Dev Biol. pii: S1084-9521
  • Alkobtawi M, Ray H, Barriga EH, Moreno M, Kerney R, Monsoro-Burq AH, Saint-Jeannet JP, Mayor R. (2018). Characterization of Pax3 and Sox10 transgenic Xenopus laevis embryos as tools to study neural crest development. Dev Biol. pii: S0012-1606
  • Barriga EH, Franze K, Charras G, Mayor R. (2018). Tissue stiffening coordinates morphogenesis by triggering collective cell migration in vivo. Nature. 554, 7693, 523-527
  • Vacca B, Sanchez-Heras E, Steed E, Busson SL, Balda MS, Ohnuma SI, Sasai N, Mayor R, Matter K. (2018). Control of neural crest induction by MarvelD3-mediated attenuation of JNK signalling. Sci Rep. 8, 1204
  • Bahm I, Barriga EH, Frolov A, Theveneau E, Frankel P, Mayor R. (2017). PDF controls contact inhibition of locomotion by regulating N-cadherin during neural crest migration. Development. 144, 2456-2468.
  • Roycroft A, Mayor R. (2018). Michael Abercrombie: contact inhibition of locomotion and more. Int J Dev Biol. 62, 5-13
  • Stramer B and Mayor R. (2017). Mechanisms and in vivo functions of contact inhibition of locomotion. Nature Rev Mol Cell Biol.18, 43-55.
  • Friedl P Mayor R. (2017). Tuning Collective Cell Migration by Cell-Cell Junction Regulation. Cold Spring Harbo Perspect Biol., 9(4). Pii: a029199
  • Szabó A, Melchionda M, Nastasi G, Woods ML, Campo S, Perris R, Mayor, R. (2016). In vivo confinement promotes collective migration of neural crest cells. J Cell Biol. 213, 543- 555
  • Szabó A, Cobo I, Omara S, McLachlan S, Keller R, Mayor R. (2016). The Molecular Basis of Radial Intercalation during Tissue Spreading in Early Development. Dev Cell. 37, 213-25
  • Mayor R, Etienne-Manneville S. (2016). The front and rear of collective cell migration. Nature Rev Mol Cell Biol.17, 97-109.
  • Scarpa E, Mayor R. (2016). Collective cell migration in development. J Cell Biol. 212, 143-5.
  • Rabadán MA, Herrera A, Fanlo L, Usieto S, Carmona-Fontaine C, Barriga EH, Mayor R, Pons S, Martí E. (2016). Delamination of neural crest cells requires transient and reversible Wnt inhibition mediated by Dact1/2. Development. 143, 2194-205
  • Vacca B, Sanchez-Heras E, Steed E, Balda MS, Ohnuma SI, Sasai N, Mayor R, Matter K. (2016). MarvelD3 regulates the c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway during eye development in Xenopus. Biol Open. 5, 1631-1641
  • Broders-Bondon F, Paul-Gilloteaux P, Gazquez E, Heysch J, Piel M, Mayor R, Lambris JD, Dufour S. (2016) Control of the collective migration of enteric neural crest cells by the Complement anaphylatoxin C3a and N-cadherin. Dev Biol. 414, 85-99
  • Yamada K. Mayor R. (2016). Cell dynamics in development, tissue remodelling, and cancer. Curr Opin Cell Biol 42, iv-vi
  • Szabo A. Mayor R (2016). Modelling collective cell migration of neural crest. Curr Opin Cell Biol 42, 22-28
  • Melchionda M, Pittman JK, Mayor R*, Patel S*. (2016). Ca2+/H+ exchange by acidic organelles regulates cell migration in vivo. J Cell Biol. 212, 803-13. *co-corresponding authors
  • Shellard A. Mayor R (2016). Chemotaxis during neural crest migration. Semin Cell Dev Biol, 55, 111-8
  • Roycroft A, Mayor R. (2016). Molecular basis of contact inhibition of locomotion. Cell Mol Life Sci. 73, 1119-30
  • Roycroft A, Mayor R. (2015). Forcing contact inhibition of locomotion. Trends Cell Biol. 25, 373-5
  • Scarpa E, Szabó A, Bibonne A, Theveneau E, Parsons M, Mayor R. (2015). Cadherin Switch during EMT in Neural Crest Cells Leads to Contact Inhibition of Locomotion via Repolarization of Forces. Dev Cell. 34, 421-34
  • Kotini M, Mayor R. (2015). Connexins in migration during development and cancer. Dev Biol. 401, 143-5
  • Steventon B, Mayor R, Streit A. (2015). Directional cell movements downstream of Gbx2 and Otx2 control the assembly of sensory placodes. Biol Open. 5, 1620-1624
  • Barriga EH, Trainor PA, Bronner M, Mayor R (2015). Animal models for studying neural crest development: is the mouse different? Development.142, 1555-60
  • Szabó A, Mayor R. (2015). Cell traction in collective cell migration and morphogenesis: the chase and run mechanism. Cell Adh Migr. 9, 380-3
  • Barriga EH, Mayor R. (2015). Embryonic cell-cell adhesion: a key player in collective neural crest migration. Curr Top Dev Biol. 112:301-23

RESEARCH LINES

Understanding the molecular and mechanical basis of development

Morphogenesis (generation of form) is one of the most remarkable process in biology and involves the interplay of molecular and physical events that coordinate cell differentiation and cell migration. Our aim is to understand the molecular and mechanical basis of morphogenesis during embryonic development, using an interdisciplinary approach which includes cell and molecular biology, together with mechanobiology and mathematical modelling.

Specific research lines:

1. Neural Crest Induction

Embryonic induction is the process by which signals from one tissue change the fate of another adjacent tissue during development. We are interested in identifying the molecular and mechanical cues that control neural crest induction during early development

2. Cell migration

Cell migration isessential for development and homeostasis. Our aim is to understand the molecular signals and physical events that control cell migration in vivo. We use two of the most migratory cell types during embryo development: the neural crest and macrophages.

3. Cell differentiation

Cell differentiation has been mainly studied as the consequence of a genetic cascade activated by molecular signals. We would like to understand how mechanical and molecular signals interplay in controlling fate decision during cell differentiation.

PROJECTS

Activo:

2020-2025: Wellcome Trust Investigator Awards in Science. How cell migration and differentiation are coordinated during morphogenesis. (Principal Investigator)

2021-2024: MRC project grant. Role of inflammation on craniofacial morphogenesis. (Principal Investigator)

Terminado:

2020-2023: BBSRC. How tissue mechanics control cell differentiation in vivo. (Principal Investigator)

2019-2022: MRC project grant. The role of supracellular actomyosin in collective cell migration in vivo. (Principal Investigator)

2018-2021: BBSRC project grant. Biomechanical analysis of collective cell migration in vivo. (Principal Investigator)

2015-2018: BBSRC project grant. Exploring a novel role of neural crest during otic vesicle morphogenesis. (Principal Investigator)

2015-2018: MRC project grant. Complement as a novel regulator of Wnt signalling during craniofacial development. (Principal Investigator)

2012-2015: MRC project grant. Role of Complement in Neural Crest migration and craniofacial development. (Principal Investigator)

2004-2008: MRC senior non-clinical fellowship. Development of the neural crest in Xenopus: from induction to cell migration. (Principal Investigator)

2001-2006: Howard Hughes Medical Institute international scholar. Development of the neural crest in Xenopus. (Principal Investigator)

1998-2001: Human Frontier Science Program, P. Gruss, J. Modolell, K.Storey, R. Mayor, Prepattern genes in Drosophila and Vertebrates. (Principal Investigator)