The Agromayor laboratory uses a multidisciplinary approach involving the latest imaging, biochemical and genetic techniques to study how cells reorganise their cytoskeleton and plasma membrane during infection and cell division.
During the last few years, our research has focused on how viruses manipulate and exploit the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) machinery to promote their replication. Our work in this area has revealed a mechanism to functionally tailor the ESCRTs for different cellular processes by binding differentially to components of the machinery depending on the required activity. This way, the same cellular machinery can catalyse the scission of thin membranous stalks present in the final stages of topologically equivalent membrane remodelling processes such as enveloped virus budding, endosomal sorting of ubiquitinated membrane cargo and cytokinesis.
Themes

Our research
Currently, our research is focused on investigating the mechanisms by which mammalian cells orchestrate the cytoskeletal and membrane remodelling processes occurring during cytokinesis and viral infection.
Publications
UMAD1 contributes to ESCRT-III dynamic subunit turnover during cytokinetic abscission
Glover, J., Scourfield, E. J., Ventimiglia, L. N., Yang, X., Lynham, S., Agromayor, M. & Martin-Serrano, J., 10 Aug 2023, In: Journal of Cell Science. 136, 15, jcs261097.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Resilient SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics workflows including viral heat inactivation
Lista, M. J., Matos, P. M., Maguire, T. J. A., Poulton, K., Ortiz-Zapater, E., Page, R., Sertkaya, H., Ortega-Prieto, A. M., O'Byrne, A. M., Bouton, C., Dickenson, R. E., Ficarelli, M., Jimenez-Guardeño, J. M., Howard, M., Betancor, G., Galao, R. P., Pickering, S., Signell, A. W., Wilson, H. & Cliff, P. & 16 others, Ik, M. T. K., Patel, A., MacMahon, E., Cunningham, E., Doores, K., Agromayor, M., Martin-Serrano, J., Perucha, E., Mischo, H. E., Shankar-Hari, M., Batra, R., Edgeworth, J., Zuckerman, M., Malim, M. H., Neil, S. & Martinez-Nunez, R. T., 10 Apr 2021, (MedRxiv).Research output: Working paper/Preprint › Preprint
Resilient SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics workflows including viral heat inactivation
Lista, M. J., Matos, P. M., Maguire, T. J. A., Poulton, K., Ortiz-Zapater, E., Page, R., Sertkaya, H., Ortega-Prieto, A. M., Scourfield, E., O'Byrne, A. M., Bouton, C., Dickenson, R. E., Ficarelli, M., Jimenez-Guardeño, J. M., Howard, M., Betancor, G., Galao, R. P., Pickering, S., Signell, A. W. & Wilson, H. & 17 others, Cliff, P., Kia Ik, M. T., Patel, A., MacMahon, E., Cunningham, E., Doores, K., Agromayor, M., Martin-Serrano, J., Perucha, E., Mischo, H. E., Shankar-Hari, M., Batra, R., Edgeworth, J., Zuckerman, M., Malim, M. H., Neil, S. & Martinez-Nunez, R. T., 15 Sept 2021, In: PLoS ONE. 16, 9 September, e0256813.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The ESCRT machinery counteracts Nesprin-2G-mediated mechanical forces during nuclear envelope repair
Wallis, S. S., Ventimiglia, L. N., Otigbah, E., Infante, E., Cuesta-Geijo, M. A., Kidiyoor, G. R., Carbajal, M. A., Fleck, R. A., Foiani, M., Garcia-Manyes, S., Martin-Serrano, J. & Agromayor, M., 6 Dec 2021, In: Developmental Cell. 56, 23, p. 3192-3202.e8Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Sequence analysis of a Molluscum contagiosum virus DNA region which includes the gene encoding protein kinase 2 and other genes with unique organization
Martin-Gallardo, A., Moratilla, M., Funes, J. M., Agromayor, M., Nuñez, A., Varas, A. J., Collado, M., Valencia, A., Lopez-Estebaranz, J. L. & Esteban, M., 1996, In: Virus Genes. 13, 1, p. 19-29 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Detection and typing of molluscum contagiosum virus in skin lesions by using a simple lysis method and polymerase chain reaction
Nuñez, A., Funes, J. M., Agromayor, M., Moratilla, M., Varas, A. J., Lopez-Estebaranz, J. L., Esteban, M. & Martin-Gallardo, A., Dec 1996, In: Journal of Medical Virology. 50, 4, p. 342-349 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Molecular epidemiology of molluscum contagiosum virus and analysis of the host-serum antibody response in Spanish HIV-negative patients
Agromayor, M., Ortiz, P., Lopez-Estebaranz, J. L., Gonzalez-Nicolas, J., Esteban, M. & Martin-Gallardo, A., Feb 2002, In: Journal of Medical Virology. 66, 2, p. 151-8 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
A random DNA sequencing, computer-based approach for the generation of a gene map of molluscum contagiosum virus
Moratilla, M., Agromayor, M., Nuñez, A., Funes, J. M., Varas, A. J., Lopez-Estebaranz, J. L., Esteban, M. & Martin-Gallardo, A., 1997, In: Virus Genes. 14, 1, p. 73-80 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Knowing when to cut and run: mechanisms that control cytokinetic abscission
Agromayor, M. & Martin-Serrano, J., Sept 2013, In: Trends in cell biology. 23, 9, p. 433-441 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
ULK3 regulates cytokinetic abscission by phosphorylating ESCRT-III proteins
Caballe, A., Wenzel, D. M., Agromayor, M., Alam, S. L., Skalicky, J. J., Kloc, M., Carlton, J. G., Labrador, L., Sundquist, W. I. & Martin-Serrano, J., 26 May 2015, In: eLife. 4, 0, 36 p., e06547.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
An ESCRT module is required for neuron pruning
Loncle, N., Agromayor, M., Martin-Serrano, J. & Williams, D. W., 13 Feb 2015, In: Scientific Reports. 5, 1, 11 p., 8461.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
ESCRT-III binding protein MITD1 is involved in cytokinesis and has an unanticipated PLD fold that binds membranes
Hadders, M. A., Agromayor, M., Obita, T., Perisic, O., Caballe, A., Kloc, M., Lamers, M. H., Williams, R. L. & Martin Serrano, J., 23 Oct 2012, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 109, 43, p. 17424-17429 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Differential requirements for Alix and ESCRT-III in cytokinesis and HIV-1 release
Carlton, J., Agromayor, M. & Martin Serrano, J., 29 Jul 2008, In: Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA. 105, 30, p. 10541-6 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
ESCRT-III Governs the Aurora B-Mediated Abscission Checkpoint Through CHMP4C
Carlton, J. G., Caballe, A., Agromayor, M., Kloc, M. & Martin-Serrano, J., 13 Apr 2012, In: Science. 336, 6078, p. 220 - 225 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The UBAP1 Subunit of ESCRT-I Interacts with Ubiquitin via a SOUBA Domain
Agromayor, M., Soler, N., Caballe, A., Kueck, T., Freund, S. M., Allen, M. D., Bycroft, M., Perisic, O., Ye, Y., McDonald, B., Scheel, H., Hofmann, K., Neil, S. J. D., Martin-Serrano, J. & Williams, R. L., 7 Mar 2012, In: Structure. 20, 3, p. 414 - 428 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Essential Role of hIST1 in Cytokinesis
Agromayor, M., Carlton, J. G., Phelan, J. P., Matthews, D. R., Carlin, L. M., Ameer-Beg, S., Bowers, K. & Martin-Serrano, J., 1 Mar 2009, In: Molecular Biology of the Cell. 20, 5, p. 1374 - 1387 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Interaction of AMSH with ESCRT-III and deubiquitination of endosomal cargo
Agromayor, M. & Martin-Serrano, J., 11 Aug 2006, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 281, 32, p. 23083 - 23091 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Activities

Outreach
Dr Agromayor is an In2scienceUK ambassador and runs the School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences Summer School
Previous lab members
- Carmen Bugarin Diz (MRes student 2015-2016, research assistant 2016-2017)
- Nawal Maïssa (post-doc 2016-2019)
- Samuel Wallis (PhD student 2016-2021)
- Evita Otigbah (PhD student 2017-2022)
Themes

Our research
Currently, our research is focused on investigating the mechanisms by which mammalian cells orchestrate the cytoskeletal and membrane remodelling processes occurring during cytokinesis and viral infection.
Publications
UMAD1 contributes to ESCRT-III dynamic subunit turnover during cytokinetic abscission
Glover, J., Scourfield, E. J., Ventimiglia, L. N., Yang, X., Lynham, S., Agromayor, M. & Martin-Serrano, J., 10 Aug 2023, In: Journal of Cell Science. 136, 15, jcs261097.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Resilient SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics workflows including viral heat inactivation
Lista, M. J., Matos, P. M., Maguire, T. J. A., Poulton, K., Ortiz-Zapater, E., Page, R., Sertkaya, H., Ortega-Prieto, A. M., O'Byrne, A. M., Bouton, C., Dickenson, R. E., Ficarelli, M., Jimenez-Guardeño, J. M., Howard, M., Betancor, G., Galao, R. P., Pickering, S., Signell, A. W., Wilson, H. & Cliff, P. & 16 others, Ik, M. T. K., Patel, A., MacMahon, E., Cunningham, E., Doores, K., Agromayor, M., Martin-Serrano, J., Perucha, E., Mischo, H. E., Shankar-Hari, M., Batra, R., Edgeworth, J., Zuckerman, M., Malim, M. H., Neil, S. & Martinez-Nunez, R. T., 10 Apr 2021, (MedRxiv).Research output: Working paper/Preprint › Preprint
Resilient SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics workflows including viral heat inactivation
Lista, M. J., Matos, P. M., Maguire, T. J. A., Poulton, K., Ortiz-Zapater, E., Page, R., Sertkaya, H., Ortega-Prieto, A. M., Scourfield, E., O'Byrne, A. M., Bouton, C., Dickenson, R. E., Ficarelli, M., Jimenez-Guardeño, J. M., Howard, M., Betancor, G., Galao, R. P., Pickering, S., Signell, A. W. & Wilson, H. & 17 others, Cliff, P., Kia Ik, M. T., Patel, A., MacMahon, E., Cunningham, E., Doores, K., Agromayor, M., Martin-Serrano, J., Perucha, E., Mischo, H. E., Shankar-Hari, M., Batra, R., Edgeworth, J., Zuckerman, M., Malim, M. H., Neil, S. & Martinez-Nunez, R. T., 15 Sept 2021, In: PLoS ONE. 16, 9 September, e0256813.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The ESCRT machinery counteracts Nesprin-2G-mediated mechanical forces during nuclear envelope repair
Wallis, S. S., Ventimiglia, L. N., Otigbah, E., Infante, E., Cuesta-Geijo, M. A., Kidiyoor, G. R., Carbajal, M. A., Fleck, R. A., Foiani, M., Garcia-Manyes, S., Martin-Serrano, J. & Agromayor, M., 6 Dec 2021, In: Developmental Cell. 56, 23, p. 3192-3202.e8Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Sequence analysis of a Molluscum contagiosum virus DNA region which includes the gene encoding protein kinase 2 and other genes with unique organization
Martin-Gallardo, A., Moratilla, M., Funes, J. M., Agromayor, M., Nuñez, A., Varas, A. J., Collado, M., Valencia, A., Lopez-Estebaranz, J. L. & Esteban, M., 1996, In: Virus Genes. 13, 1, p. 19-29 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Detection and typing of molluscum contagiosum virus in skin lesions by using a simple lysis method and polymerase chain reaction
Nuñez, A., Funes, J. M., Agromayor, M., Moratilla, M., Varas, A. J., Lopez-Estebaranz, J. L., Esteban, M. & Martin-Gallardo, A., Dec 1996, In: Journal of Medical Virology. 50, 4, p. 342-349 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Molecular epidemiology of molluscum contagiosum virus and analysis of the host-serum antibody response in Spanish HIV-negative patients
Agromayor, M., Ortiz, P., Lopez-Estebaranz, J. L., Gonzalez-Nicolas, J., Esteban, M. & Martin-Gallardo, A., Feb 2002, In: Journal of Medical Virology. 66, 2, p. 151-8 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
A random DNA sequencing, computer-based approach for the generation of a gene map of molluscum contagiosum virus
Moratilla, M., Agromayor, M., Nuñez, A., Funes, J. M., Varas, A. J., Lopez-Estebaranz, J. L., Esteban, M. & Martin-Gallardo, A., 1997, In: Virus Genes. 14, 1, p. 73-80 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Knowing when to cut and run: mechanisms that control cytokinetic abscission
Agromayor, M. & Martin-Serrano, J., Sept 2013, In: Trends in cell biology. 23, 9, p. 433-441 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
ULK3 regulates cytokinetic abscission by phosphorylating ESCRT-III proteins
Caballe, A., Wenzel, D. M., Agromayor, M., Alam, S. L., Skalicky, J. J., Kloc, M., Carlton, J. G., Labrador, L., Sundquist, W. I. & Martin-Serrano, J., 26 May 2015, In: eLife. 4, 0, 36 p., e06547.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
An ESCRT module is required for neuron pruning
Loncle, N., Agromayor, M., Martin-Serrano, J. & Williams, D. W., 13 Feb 2015, In: Scientific Reports. 5, 1, 11 p., 8461.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
ESCRT-III binding protein MITD1 is involved in cytokinesis and has an unanticipated PLD fold that binds membranes
Hadders, M. A., Agromayor, M., Obita, T., Perisic, O., Caballe, A., Kloc, M., Lamers, M. H., Williams, R. L. & Martin Serrano, J., 23 Oct 2012, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 109, 43, p. 17424-17429 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Differential requirements for Alix and ESCRT-III in cytokinesis and HIV-1 release
Carlton, J., Agromayor, M. & Martin Serrano, J., 29 Jul 2008, In: Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA. 105, 30, p. 10541-6 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
ESCRT-III Governs the Aurora B-Mediated Abscission Checkpoint Through CHMP4C
Carlton, J. G., Caballe, A., Agromayor, M., Kloc, M. & Martin-Serrano, J., 13 Apr 2012, In: Science. 336, 6078, p. 220 - 225 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The UBAP1 Subunit of ESCRT-I Interacts with Ubiquitin via a SOUBA Domain
Agromayor, M., Soler, N., Caballe, A., Kueck, T., Freund, S. M., Allen, M. D., Bycroft, M., Perisic, O., Ye, Y., McDonald, B., Scheel, H., Hofmann, K., Neil, S. J. D., Martin-Serrano, J. & Williams, R. L., 7 Mar 2012, In: Structure. 20, 3, p. 414 - 428 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Essential Role of hIST1 in Cytokinesis
Agromayor, M., Carlton, J. G., Phelan, J. P., Matthews, D. R., Carlin, L. M., Ameer-Beg, S., Bowers, K. & Martin-Serrano, J., 1 Mar 2009, In: Molecular Biology of the Cell. 20, 5, p. 1374 - 1387 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Interaction of AMSH with ESCRT-III and deubiquitination of endosomal cargo
Agromayor, M. & Martin-Serrano, J., 11 Aug 2006, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 281, 32, p. 23083 - 23091 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Activities

Outreach
Dr Agromayor is an In2scienceUK ambassador and runs the School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences Summer School
Previous lab members
- Carmen Bugarin Diz (MRes student 2015-2016, research assistant 2016-2017)
- Nawal Maïssa (post-doc 2016-2019)
- Samuel Wallis (PhD student 2016-2021)
- Evita Otigbah (PhD student 2017-2022)
Our Partners

Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council