Marcela Daniela Gatica-Andrades

Dr. Marcela Daniela Gatica-Andrades


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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FGFabiola Gonzalez-Herrera
Fabiola Gonzalez-Herrera
KTKaren Toledo-Stuardo
Karen Toledo-Stuardo
ASAntonio E. Serrano
Antonio E. Serrano
MGMarcela Daniela Gatica-Andrades
Marcela Daniela Gatica-Andrades
DMDouglas J. Matthies
Douglas J. Matthies
MMMaría Carmen Molina
María Carmen Molina
Major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene A (MICA) is a non-classical MHC-I molecule essential for immune surveillance, yet its intracellular maturation remains poorly understood. We show that MICA is predominantly retained intracellularly in melanoma cells and colocalizes with the endoplasmic reticulum chaperone calreticulin (CRT). Notably, MICA also colocalizes with CRT in healthy skin. Immunoprecipitation assays reveal that CRT preferentially associates with a low-molecular-weight form of MICA. Recombinant protein assays and in silico analyses support direct interaction between CRT and non-glycosylated MICA, but not with fully glycosylated eukaryotic MICA. These findings identify CRT-dependent retention of MICA as a physiological checkpoint that may be dysregulated in melanoma to promote immune evasion.