{"entity": "researcher", "timestamp": "2026-08-20T21:35:40.188Z", "family": "Tsarouhas", "given": "Vasilios", "initials": "V", "orcid": "0000-0002-2933-1351", "affiliations": ["Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.", "SciLifeLab, SE-171 65, Stockholm, Sweden."], "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/d362ea4932884dd1821277d9a07c0d90.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/d362ea4932884dd1821277d9a07c0d90"}}, "publications": [{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "045fd075b14a4188a3c747dbf98b4e8c", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/045fd075b14a4188a3c747dbf98b4e8c.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/045fd075b14a4188a3c747dbf98b4e8c"}}, "title": "Scavenger receptor endocytosis controls apical membrane morphogenesis in the Drosophila airways.", "authors": [{"family": "Pinheiro", "given": "Ana Sofia", "initials": "AS"}, {"family": "Tsarouhas", "given": "Vasilios", "initials": "V", "orcid": "0000-0002-2933-1351", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/d362ea4932884dd1821277d9a07c0d90.json"}}, {"family": "Senti", "given": "Kirsten Andr\u00e9", "initials": "KA"}, {"family": "Arefin", "given": "Badrul", "initials": "B", "orcid": "0000-0003-1117-9125", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/3577fb794dca4f33a3fbea4dab3d2e7c.json"}}, {"family": "Samakovlis", "given": "Christos", "initials": "C", "orcid": "0000-0002-9153-6040", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/d8ef864cc7c34dba830faa9caeafc3e7.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2023-09-14", "journal": {"title": "Elife", "issn": "2050-084X", "volume": "12", "issn-l": "2050-084X"}, "abstract": "The acquisition of distinct branch sizes and shapes is a central aspect in tubular organ morphogenesis and function. In the Drosophila airway tree, the interplay of apical extracellular matrix (ECM) components with the underlying membrane and cytoskeleton controls tube elongation, but the link between ECM composition with apical membrane morphogenesis and tube size regulation is elusive. Here, we characterized Emp (epithelial membrane protein), a Drosophila CD36 homolog belonging to the scavenger receptor class B protein family. emp mutant embryos fail to internalize the luminal chitin deacetylases Serp and Verm at the final stages of airway maturation and die at hatching with liquid filled airways. Emp localizes in apical epithelial membranes and shows cargo selectivity for LDLr-domain containing proteins. emp mutants also display over elongated tracheal tubes with increased levels of the apical proteins Crb, DE-cad, and phosphorylated Src (p-Src). We show that Emp associates with and organizes the \u03b2H-Spectrin cytoskeleton and is itself confined by apical F-actin bundles. Overexpression or loss of its cargo protein Serp lead to abnormal apical accumulations of Emp and perturbations in p-Src levels. We propose that during morphogenesis, Emp senses and responds to luminal cargo levels by initiating apical membrane endocytosis along the longitudinal tube axis and thereby restricts airway elongation.", "doi": "10.7554/eLife.84974", "pmid": "37706489", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC10564452"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "84974"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T13:55:04.031Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T13:55:04.127Z"}, {"entity": "publication", "iuid": "186fe48943004a4c941329c03a13f2ec", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/186fe48943004a4c941329c03a13f2ec.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/186fe48943004a4c941329c03a13f2ec"}}, "title": "Author response: Scavenger receptor endocytosis controls apical membrane morphogenesis in the Drosophila airways", "authors": [{"family": "Pinheiro", "given": "Ana Sofia", "initials": "AS"}, {"family": "Tsarouhas", "given": "Vasilios", "initials": "V", "orcid": "0000-0002-2933-1351", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/d362ea4932884dd1821277d9a07c0d90.json"}}, {"family": "Senti", "given": "Kirsten Andr\u00e9", "initials": "KA"}, {"family": "Arefin", "given": "Badrul", "initials": "B", "orcid": "0000-0003-1117-9125", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/3577fb794dca4f33a3fbea4dab3d2e7c.json"}}, {"family": "Samakovlis", "given": "Christos", "initials": "C", "orcid": "0000-0002-9153-6040", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/d8ef864cc7c34dba830faa9caeafc3e7.json"}}], "type": "peer-review", "published": "2023-07-11", "journal": {"issn-l": null}, "abstract": null, "doi": "10.7554/elife.84974.sa2", "pmid": null, "labels": [], "xrefs": [], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T13:55:05.870Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T13:55:05.945Z"}, {"entity": "publication", "iuid": "ce1bf0285cf34871992491b36d015202", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/ce1bf0285cf34871992491b36d015202.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/ce1bf0285cf34871992491b36d015202"}}, "title": "A Surfactant Lipid Layer of Endosomal Membranes Empowers Airway Gas-Filling in <i>Drosophila</i>", "authors": [{"family": "Tsarouhas", "given": "Vasilios", "initials": "V", "orcid": "0000-0002-2933-1351", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/d362ea4932884dd1821277d9a07c0d90.json"}}, {"family": "Liu", "given": "Dan", "initials": "D"}, {"family": "Tsikala", "given": "Georgia", "initials": "G"}, {"family": "Strigini", "given": "Maura", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Samakovlis", "given": "Christos", "initials": "C", "orcid": "0000-0002-9153-6040", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/d8ef864cc7c34dba830faa9caeafc3e7.json"}}], "type": "posted-content", "published": "2023-00-00", "journal": {"issn-l": null}, "abstract": null, "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.4318048", "pmid": null, "labels": [], "xrefs": [], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T13:01:28.674Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T13:01:28.727Z"}, {"entity": "publication", "iuid": "c3dd4db85d624a3dbe5fb4ec60ff6065", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/c3dd4db85d624a3dbe5fb4ec60ff6065.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/c3dd4db85d624a3dbe5fb4ec60ff6065"}}, "title": "WASH activation controls endosomal recycling and EGFR and Hippo signaling during tumor-suppressive cell competition.", "authors": [{"family": "Liu", "given": "Dan", "initials": "D"}, {"family": "Tsarouhas", "given": "Vasilios", "initials": "V", "orcid": "0000-0002-2933-1351", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/d362ea4932884dd1821277d9a07c0d90.json"}}, {"family": "Samakovlis", "given": "Christos", "initials": "C", "orcid": "0000-0002-9153-6040", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/d8ef864cc7c34dba830faa9caeafc3e7.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2022-10-21", "journal": {"title": "Nat Commun", "issn": "2041-1723", "volume": "13", "issue": "1", "pages": "6243", "issn-l": "2041-1723"}, "abstract": "Cell competition is a conserved homeostatic mechanism whereby epithelial cells eliminate neighbors with lower fitness. Cell communication at the interface of wild-type \"winner\" cells and polarity-deficient (scrib-/-) \"losers\" is established through Sas-mediated Ptp10D activation in polarity-deficient cells. This tumor-suppressive cell competition restrains EGFR and Hippo signaling and enables Eiger-JNK mediated apoptosis in scrib-/- clones. Here, we show that the activation state of the endosomal actin regulator WASH is a central node linking EGFR and Hippo signaling activation. The tyrosine kinase Btk29A and its substrate WASH are required downstream of Ptp10D for \"loser\" cell elimination. Constitutively active, phosphomimetic WASH is sufficient to induce both EGFR and Yki activation leading to overgrowth. On the mechanistic level we show that Ptp10D is recycled by the WASH/retromer complex, while EGFR is recycled by the WASH/retriever complex. Constitutive WASH activation selectively interferes with retromer function leading to Ptp10D mistargeting while promoting EGFR recycling and signaling activation. Phospho-WASH also activates aberrant Arp2/3 actin polymerization, leading to cytoskeletal imbalance, Yki activation and reduced apoptosis. Selective manipulation of WASH phosphorylation on sorting endosomes may restrict epithelial tumorous growth.", "doi": "10.1038/s41467-022-34067-1", "pmid": "36271083", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC9587002"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "10.1038/s41467-022-34067-1"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T08:52:23.064Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T08:52:23.145Z"}, {"entity": "publication", "iuid": "4f32ff11033d4cd8ab88ac4cb9fb762a", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/4f32ff11033d4cd8ab88ac4cb9fb762a.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/4f32ff11033d4cd8ab88ac4cb9fb762a"}}, "title": "WASH phosphorylation balances endosomal versus cortical actin network integrities during epithelial morphogenesis.", "authors": [{"family": "Tsarouhas", "given": "Vasilios", "initials": "V", "orcid": "0000-0002-2933-1351", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/d362ea4932884dd1821277d9a07c0d90.json"}}, {"family": "Liu", "given": "Dan", "initials": "D"}, {"family": "Tsikala", "given": "Georgia", "initials": "G"}, {"family": "Fedoseienko", "given": "Alina", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Zinn", "given": "Kai", "initials": "K"}, {"family": "Matsuda", "given": "Ryo", "initials": "R"}, {"family": "Billadeau", "given": "Daniel D", "initials": "DD"}, {"family": "Samakovlis", "given": "Christos", "initials": "C", "orcid": "0000-0002-9153-6040", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/d8ef864cc7c34dba830faa9caeafc3e7.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2019-05-16", "journal": {"title": "Nat Commun", "issn": "2041-1723", "volume": "10", "issue": "1", "pages": "2193", "issn-l": "2041-1723"}, "abstract": "Filamentous actin (F-actin) networks facilitate key processes like cell shape control, division, polarization and motility. The dynamic coordination of F-actin networks and its impact on cellular activities are poorly understood. We report an antagonistic relationship between endosomal F-actin assembly and cortical actin bundle integrity during Drosophila airway maturation. Double mutants lacking receptor tyrosine phosphatases (PTP) Ptp10D and Ptp4E, clear luminal proteins and disassemble apical actin bundles prematurely. These defects are counterbalanced by reduction of endosomal trafficking and by mutations affecting the tyrosine kinase Btk29A, and the actin nucleation factor WASH. Btk29A forms protein complexes with Ptp10D and WASH, and Btk29A phosphorylates WASH. This phosphorylation activates endosomal WASH function in flies and mice. In contrast, a phospho-mimetic WASH variant induces endosomal actin accumulation, premature luminal endocytosis and cortical F-actin disassembly. We conclude that PTPs and Btk29A regulate WASH activity to balance the endosomal and cortical F-actin networks during epithelial tube maturation.", "doi": "10.1038/s41467-019-10229-6", "pmid": "31097705", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC6522504"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "10.1038/s41467-019-10229-6"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T08:50:38.690Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T08:50:38.799Z"}]}