
Overview
Background
Dr Juan Carlos Polanco leads a research team on "Extracellular Vesicles and Neurodegenerative Disorders" at the Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), part of the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) at the University of Queensland (UQ). He holds an MSc in Biochemistry from the National University of Colombia and a PhD in Molecular Bioscience from UQ. During his PhD, Dr Polanco made significant contributions to understanding how SOX genes are involved in XX disorders of sex development. He furthered his expertise during a postdoctoral fellowship at CSIRO, developing assays to detect unstable human-induced pluripotent stem cells prone to tumorigenesis.
In 2013, Dr Polanco joined Prof. Jürgen Götz's lab at CJCADR, where he began pioneering work on small extracellular vesicles, known as exosomes. His highly cited 2016 paper in the Journal of Biological Chemistry was the first to demonstrate that exosomes encapsulate 'Tau seeds' capable of inducing Tau aggregation in recipient cells. He also showed that exosomes can propagate between interconnected neurons and that some exosomes internalised by neurons are re-released by hijacking endogenous secretory endosomes, thereby increasing their pathogenicity (Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 2018). Since 2019, Dr Polanco has secured NHMRC grants and leads a research team within Prof. Götz's larger laboratory at CJCADR.
Availability
- Dr Juan Polanco is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
-
RESEARCH TEAM: Extracellular Vesicles and Neurodegenerative Disorders
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterised by the aggregation and fibrillisation of the microtubule-associated protein Tau, leading to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). These Tau lesions are common in Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal lobar degeneration with Tau, argyrophilic grain disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration. The prevailing theory suggests that Alzheimer's Tau pathology may result from the spread of misfolded Tau protein, known as "Tau seeds," through neuronal projections in the brain. These Tau seeds disrupt the conformation of soluble Tau protein in recipient neurons and exist in two forms: (i) vesicle-free Tau, such as free oligomers or fibrils, and (ii) exosomal Tau seeds, encapsulated within the membranes of secretory extracellular vesicles known as exosomes. While many research groups focus exclusively on vesicle-free Tau seeds, my team is dedicated to understanding how exosomal Tau seeds induce Tau pathology and how they differ from vesicle-free Tau seeds. Our research centres on three primary areas: 1) the role of exosomes in spreading Tau pathology in Alzheimer’s disease, 2) the mechanisms of exosomal cargo delivery into the cytosol, and 3) the genes and cellular processes associated with Tau aggregation. We have made significant contributions, including demonstrating that exosomes induce endolysosomal permeabilisation, allowing exosomal Tau seeds to escape into the cytosol (Acta Neuropathologica, 2021), and identifying the kinase Fyn as a key factor controlling NFT formation in neurons (Cell Reports, 2020). Our work has been featured on journal covers and has received positive attention in various research news articles.
Works
Search Professor Juan Polanco’s works on UQ eSpace
2022
Journal Article
CRISPRi screening reveals regulators of tau pathology shared between exosomal and vesicle-free tau
Polanco, Juan Carlos, Akimov, Yevhen, Fernandes, Avinash, Briner, Adam, Hand, Gabriel Rhys, van Roijen, Marloes, Balistreri, Giuseppe and Götz, Jürgen (2022). CRISPRi screening reveals regulators of tau pathology shared between exosomal and vesicle-free tau. Life Science Alliance, 6 (1) e202201689, 1-15. doi: 10.26508/lsa.202201689
2021
Journal Article
Exosomal and vesicle-free tau seeds - propagation and convergence in endolysosomal permeabilization
Polanco, Juan Carlos and Götz, Jürgen (2021). Exosomal and vesicle-free tau seeds - propagation and convergence in endolysosomal permeabilization. The FEBS Journal, 289 (22) febs.16055, 6891-6907. doi: 10.1111/febs.16055
2021
Journal Article
Exosomes induce endolysosomal permeabilization as a gateway by which exosomal tau seeds escape into the cytosol
Polanco, Juan Carlos, Hand, Gabriel Rhys, Briner, Adam, Li, Chuanzhou and Götz, Jürgen (2021). Exosomes induce endolysosomal permeabilization as a gateway by which exosomal tau seeds escape into the cytosol. Acta Neuropathologica, 141 (2), 235-256. doi: 10.1007/s00401-020-02254-3
2020
Journal Article
Fyn kinase controls tau aggregation in vivo
Briner, Adam, Götz, Jürgen and Polanco, Juan Carlos (2020). Fyn kinase controls tau aggregation in vivo. Cell Reports, 32 (7) 108045, 108045. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108045
2018
Journal Article
Are you TORCing tau me? Amyloid‐β blocks the conversation between lysosomes and mitochondria
Polanco, Juan Carlos and Götz, Jürgen (2018). Are you TORCing tau me? Amyloid‐β blocks the conversation between lysosomes and mitochondria. The EMBO Journal, 37 (22) e100839, e100839. doi: 10.15252/embj.2018100839
2018
Journal Article
Exosomes taken up by neurons hijack the endosomal pathway to spread to interconnected neurons
Polanco, Juan Carlos, Li, Chuanzhou, Durisic, Nela, Sullivan, Robert and Götz, Jürgen (2018). Exosomes taken up by neurons hijack the endosomal pathway to spread to interconnected neurons. Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 6 (1) 10, 1-14. doi: 10.1186/s40478-018-0514-4
2017
Journal Article
Amyloid-β and tau complexity - towards improved biomarkers and targeted therapies
Polanco, Juan Carlos, Li, Chuanzhou, Bodea, Liviu-Gabriel, Martinez-Marmol, Ramon, Meunier, Frederic A and Götz, Jürgen (2017). Amyloid-β and tau complexity - towards improved biomarkers and targeted therapies. Nature reviews. Neurology, 14 (1), 22-40. doi: 10.1038/nrneurol.2017.162
2016
Journal Article
Extracellular vesicles isolated from the brains of rTg4510 mice seed tau protein aggregation in a threshold-dependent manner
Polanco, Juan Carlos, Scicluna, Benjamin James, Hill, Andrew Francis and Gotz, Jurgen (2016). Extracellular vesicles isolated from the brains of rTg4510 mice seed tau protein aggregation in a threshold-dependent manner. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 291 (24), 12445-12466. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M115.709485
2016
Journal Article
Extracellular vesicles containing P301L mutant tau accelerate pathological tau phosphorylation and oligomer formation but do not seed mature neurofibrillary tangles in ALZ17 mice
Baker, Sian, Polanco, Juan Carlos and Gotz, Juergen (2016). Extracellular vesicles containing P301L mutant tau accelerate pathological tau phosphorylation and oligomer formation but do not seed mature neurofibrillary tangles in ALZ17 mice. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 54 (3), 1207-1217. doi: 10.3233/JAD-160371
2015
Journal Article
No full admission for tau to the exclusive prion club yet
Polanco, Juan Carlos and Götz, Jürgen (2015). No full admission for tau to the exclusive prion club yet. EMBO Journal, 34 (24), 2990-2992. doi: 10.15252/embj.201593311
2014
Journal Article
Tau aggregation and its interplay with amyloid-β
Nisbet, Rebecca M., Polanco, Juan-Carlos, Ittner, Lars M. and Gotz, Jurgen (2014). Tau aggregation and its interplay with amyloid-β. Acta Neuropathologica, 129 (2), 207-220. doi: 10.1007/s00401-014-1371-2
2013
Journal Article
Enrichment and purging of human embryonic stem cells by detection of cell surface antigens using the monoclonal antibodies TG30 and GCTM-2
Polanco, Juan Carlos, Wang, Bei, Zhou, Qi, Chy, Hun, O'Brien, Carmel and Laslett, Andrew L. (2013). Enrichment and purging of human embryonic stem cells by detection of cell surface antigens using the monoclonal antibodies TG30 and GCTM-2. Journal of Visualized Experiments (82) e50856. doi: 10.3791/50856
2013
Journal Article
Identification of Unsafe Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines Using a Robust Surrogate Assay for Pluripotency
Polanco, Juan Carlos, Ho, Mirabelle S. H., Wang, Bei, Zhou, Qi, Wolvetang, Ernst, Mason, Elizabeth, Wells, Christine A., Kolle, Gabriel, Grimmond, Sean M., Bertoncello, Ivan, O'Brien, Carmel and Laslett, Andrew L. (2013). Identification of Unsafe Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines Using a Robust Surrogate Assay for Pluripotency. Stem Cells, 31 (8), 1498-1510. doi: 10.1002/stem.1425
2010
Journal Article
Sox10 gain-of-function causes XX sex reversal in mice: implications for human 22q-linked disorders of sex development
Polanco, J. C., Wilhelm, D, Davidson, T. L., Knight, D and Koopman, P (2010). Sox10 gain-of-function causes XX sex reversal in mice: implications for human 22q-linked disorders of sex development. Human Molecular Genetics, 19 (3) ddp520, 506-516. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddp520
2009
Journal Article
Design of a molecular method for subspecies specific identification of Klebsiella pneumoniae by using the 16S ribosomal subunit gene
Arenas, Nelson Enrique, Polanco, Juan Carlos, Coronado, Sandra Milena, Durango, Clara Juliana and Gomez, Arley (2009). Design of a molecular method for subspecies specific identification of Klebsiella pneumoniae by using the 16S ribosomal subunit gene. Colombia Medica, 40 (3), 307-315. doi: 10.25100/cm.v40i3.659
2009
Journal Article
Design of a molecular method for subspecies specific identification of Klebsiella pneumoniae by using the 16S ribosomal subunit gene
Arenas, Nelson Enrique, Polanco, Juan Carlos, Coronado, Sandra Milena, Durango, Clara Juliana and Gomez, Arley (2009). Design of a molecular method for subspecies specific identification of Klebsiella pneumoniae by using the 16S ribosomal subunit gene. Colombia Medica, 40 (2), 194-201. doi: 10.25100/cm.v40i2.642
2009
Journal Article
Functional analysis of the SRY–KRAB interaction in mouse sex determination
Polanco, Juan Carlos, Wilhelm, Dagmar, Mizusaki, Hirofumi, Jackson, Andrew, Browne, Catherine, Davidson, Tara, Harley, Vincent, Sinclair, Andrew and Koopman, Peter (2009). Functional analysis of the SRY–KRAB interaction in mouse sex determination. Biology of The Cell, 101 (1), 55-67. doi: 10.1042/BC20080061
2009
Journal Article
Construcción de una filogenia molecular para las especies de los géneros Klebsiella y Raoultella basada en los genes ARNr 16S y ARN polimerasa subunidad
Arenas, Nelson Enrique, Gutiérrez, Andrés Julián, Salazar, Luz Mary, Polanco, Juan Carlos and Gómez, Arley (2009). Construcción de una filogenia molecular para las especies de los géneros Klebsiella y Raoultella basada en los genes ARNr 16S y ARN polimerasa subunidad. Revista Ciencias de la Salud, 7 (2), 22-29.
2007
Journal Article
Sry and the hesitant beginnings of male development
Polanco, Juan Carlos and Koopman, Peter (2007). Sry and the hesitant beginnings of male development. Developmental Biology, 302 (1), 13-24. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2006.08.049
2005
Conference Publication
Possible role of KRAB-containing proteins in sex determination
Polanco, J. C., Jackson, A., Wilhelm, D. and Koopman, P. (2005). Possible role of KRAB-containing proteins in sex determination. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Juan Polanco is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
RESEARCH TEAM: Exosomes and Tau Pathology
Dr Polanco’s team offers projects for students focused on exploring key questions, including:
- Can the delivery of exosomes into the cytosol be controlled or modulated?
- Which genes regulate this exosomal delivery?
- How can tau pathology be halted or reduced by controlling exosome production or traffic?
- Which genes play a crucial role in the induction of tau aggregation?
- What is the functional overlap between exosomal and vesicle-free tau seeds?
RESEARCH APPROACH: To achieve our goals, we leverage expertise in cell biology, cellular sensors, biochemistry, protein engineering, advanced microscopy, genome-wide CRISPR screens, multi-faceted bioinformatics analyses, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, DNA construct development, gain- and loss-of-function assays, lentivirus production and application, as well as mouse primary neuronal cultures and functional assays using Alzheimer's disease mouse models.
-
RESEARCH TEAM: Extracellular Vesicles and Tau Pathology
Dr Polanco’s team offers projects for students focused on exploring key questions, including:
- Can the delivery of exosomes into the cytosol be controlled or modulated?
- Which genes regulate this exosomal delivery?
- How can Tau pathology be halted or reduced by controlling exosome production or traffic?
- Which genes play a crucial role in the induction of Tau aggregation?
- What is the functional overlap between exosomal and vesicle-free Tau seeds?
RESEARCH APPROACH: To achieve our goals, we leverage expertise in cell biology, cellular sensors, biochemistry, protein engineering, advanced microscopy, genome-wide CRISPR screens, multi-faceted bioinformatics analyses, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, DNA construct development, gain- and loss-of-function assays, lentivirus production and application, as well as mouse primary neuronal cultures and functional assays using Alzheimer's disease mouse models.
-
Extracellular Vesicles and Tau Pathology
Dr Polanco’s team offers projects for students focused on exploring key questions, including:
- Can the delivery of exosomes into the cytosol be controlled or modulated?
- Which genes regulate this exosomal delivery?
- How can Tau pathology be halted or reduced by controlling exosome production or traffic?
- Which genes play a crucial role in the induction of Tau aggregation?
- What is the functional overlap between exosomal and vesicle-free Tau seeds?
RESEARCH APPROACH: To achieve our goals, we leverage expertise in cell biology, cellular sensors, biochemistry, protein engineering, advanced microscopy, genome-wide CRISPR screens, multi-faceted bioinformatics analyses, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, DNA construct development, gain- and loss-of-function assays, lentivirus production and application, as well as mouse primary neuronal cultures and functional assays using Alzheimer's disease mouse models.
Supervision history
Completed supervision
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular and cellular studies of neurodegenerative disease and neuronal protein synthesis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Pranesh Padmanabhan, Professor Jurgen Götz
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Dr Juan Polanco's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: