Institute of Molecular Biology and Biomedicine (IMBB), University of Crete, Greece/University of Washington, USA
PhD, Molecular Biology and Biomedicine
2000 – 2004
University of London, Imperial College, UK
MSc, Human Molecular Genetics
1999 – 2000
University of Wales Swansea, UK
BSc (Hons), Genetics
1996 – 1999
Dr. Fragkos is an assistant professor in the Department of Science and Mathematics. He has a 1st class BSc degree with Honors in Genetics (University of Wales) and an MSc with distinction in Human Molecular Genetics (Imperial College, London). Dr. Fragkos completed his PhD at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in Crete in collaboration with the University of Washington, where he worked on gene therapy of beta-thalassemia. He taught genomic instability and molecular virology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, where he revealed a new role for histone H2AX in the cell-cycle arrest induced by replication stalling, using Adeno-Associated Virus as a tool. He then moved to France and worked as a researcher at the National Center for Scientific Research. His studies showed that non-coding RNAs have a role in DNA replication and that the micro RNA pathway prevents genomic instability induced by inhibition of DNA replication. Dr. Fragkos has published his work in several high-impact factor journals, including a first-author publication in the prestigious journal Nature Reviews. His research interests are focused on the study of genomic instability induced by DNA replication stalling and the molecular pathways that contribute to carcinogenesis.
[1] Fragkos M*, Choleza M and Papadopoulou P. The Role of γH2AX in Replication Stress-induced Carcinogenesis: Possible Links and Recent Developments. Cancer Diagn Progn. 2023; 3(6): 639–48. *lead and corresponding author
[2] Fragkos M*, Barra V, Egger T, Bordignon B, Lemacon D, Naim V* and Coquelle A. Dicer prevents genome instability in response to replication stress. Oncotarget. 2019;10(43):4407-23. *co-corresponding author
[3] Aze A*,Fragkos M*,Bocquet S, Julien Cau and Mechali M. RNAs coordinate nuclear envelope assembly and DNA replication through ELYS recruitment to chromatin. Nature Communications. 2017:8(1):2130. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-02180-1. *equal contribution
[4] Fragkos M and Naim V. Rescue from replication stress during mitosis. Cell Cycle. 2017; 16(7):613-633.
[5] Fragkos M, Ganier O, Coulombe P and Mechali M. DNA replication origin activation in space and time. Nature Reviews Mol Cell Biol. 2015;16(6):360-74.
[6] Fragkos M and Beard P. Mitotic catastrophe can occur in the absence of apoptosis in p53-null cells with a defective G1 checkpoint. PLOS One. 2011;6(8):e22946.
[7] Fragkos M, Jurvansuu J and Beard P. H2AX is required in cell cycle arrest via the p53/p21 pathway. Mol Cell Biol. 2009;29(10):2828-40.
[8] Fragkos M, Breuleux M, Clement N and Beard P. Recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors are deficient in provoking a DNA damage response. J Virol. 2008;82(15):7379-87.
[9] Fragkos M, Anagnou NP, Tubb J and Emery DW. Use of the hereditary persistence of fetal haemoglobin 2 enhancer to increase expression of oncoretrovirus vectors for human gamma-globin. Gene Ther. 2005;12(21):1591-600.