Current Position

Senior Scientist, Head of Biochemical Genetics Department

Dean, CING Postgraduate School

Research Interests

Glycogen metabolism, inherited metabolic disorders

Biography

Completed undergraduate studies in Biology at the University of Göttingen / Germany and received his PhD in 2001 from the same university for a thesis performed at the Max-Planck Institute of Biophysical Chemistry in the field of developmental and cell biology. From 2002-2006 he was a post-doctoral fellow at the Department of Biology of the University of Crete where he investigated the role of a new family of extracellular matrix proteins in epithelial basement membranes in the mouse embryo. In September 2008 he joined the Department of Biochemical Genetics of the CING where he is currently involved in diagnostic and research activities related to inherited metabolic disorders.

Selected Publications:

1. Demetriadou, A., Grafakou, O., Georgiou, Th., Burska, D., Malekkou, A., Krizova, J., Paramera, E., Mavrikiou, G., Dionysiou, M., Theodosiou, A., Sismani, C., Anastasiadou, V., Ioannou, I., Papakonstantinou, E., Hansikova, H., Drousiotou, A., Petrou, PP.: “YME1L1 dysfunction associated with 3-methylglutaconic aciduria.” J. Inher. Metab. Dis. (2025), doi: 10.1002/JIMD.70029
2. Theodoulou, A., Speckmann, T., Potamiti, L., Baba, O., Morita, T., Drousiotou, A., Panayiotidis, MI., Schürmann, A., Petrou, PP.: “Stbd1 stimulates AMPK signaling and alleviates insulin resistance in an in vitro hepatocyte model.” FEBS J. (2025), doi:10.1111/febs.70040
3. Georgiou, Th., Grafakou, O., Malekkou, A., Athanasiou, E., Ioannou, I., Choleva, V., Dionysiou, M., Mavrikiou, G., Demetriadou, A., Anastasiadou, V., Drousiotou, A., Petrou, PP.: “A case series of Cypriot patients with CblC defect: Clinical, biochemical and molecular characteristics.” Mol. Genet. Metab. Rep. (2024), Nov 9;41:101158.
4. Georgiou, Th., Petrou, PP., Malekkou, A., Ioannou, I., Gavatha, M., Skordis, N., Nicolaidou, P., Savvidou, I., Athanasiou, E., Ourani, S., Papamichael, E., Vogazianos, M., Dionysiou, M., Mavrikiou, G., Grafakou, O., Tanteles, GA., Anastasiadou, V., Drousiotou, A.: “Inherited metabolic disorders in Cyprus.” Mol. Genet. Metab. Rep. (2024), Apr 23;39: 101083
5. Malekkou, A., Theodosiou, A., Alexandrou, A., Papaevripidou, I., Sismani, C., Jacobs, E. H., Rujiter, G. J. G., Anastasiadou, V., Ourani, S., Athanasiou, E., Drousiotou, A., Grafakou, O., Petrou, PP.: “GAA variants associated with reduced enzymatic activity but lack of Pompe-related symptoms, incidentally identified by exome sequencing.” Mol. Genet. Metab. Rep. (2023), Aug 7;36:100997.
6. Kyriakoudi, S., Theodoulou, A., Potamiti, L., Schumacher, F., Zachariou, M., Papacharalambous, R., Kleuser, B., Panayiotidis, MI., Drousiotou, A., Petrou, PP.: “Stbd1-deficient mice display insulin resistance associated with enhanced hepatic ER-mitochondria contact. Biochimie (2022), 200:172-183.
7. Kyriakoudi, S., Drousiotou, A., Petrou, PP., “When the balance tips: Dysregulation of mitochondrial dynamics as a culprit in disease”. (Review), Int. J. Mol. Sci. (2021), Apr 28;22(9):4617.        
8. Lytridou, AA., Demetriadou, A., Christou, M., Potamiti, L., Mastroyiannopoulos, NP., Kyriacou, K., Phylactou, LA., Drousiotou, A., Petrou, PP.: “Stbd1 promotes glycogen clustering during endoplasmic reticulum stress and supports survival of mouse myoblasts”. J. Cell Sci. (2020), Oct 26;133(20):jcs244855.
9. Demetriadou, A., Morales-Sanfrutos, J., Nearchou, M., Baba, O., Kyriacou, K., Tate, EW., Drousiotou, A., Petrou, PP.: “Mouse Stbd1 is N-myristoylated and affects ER-mitochondria association and mitochondrial morphology”. J. Cell Sci. (2017), 130: 903-915 
10. Petrou, PP., Pantzaris, M., Dionysiou, M., Drousiotou, A., Kyriakides, T.: “Minimally symptomatic McArdle disease, expanding the genotype-phenotype spectrum”. Muscle Nerve (2015), 52:891-895
11. Petrou, P., Pavlakis, E., Dalezios, Y., Chalepakis G: “Basement membrane localization of Frem3 is independent of the Fras1/Frem1/Frem2 protein complex within the sublamina densa.” Matrix Biol. (2007), 26: 652-658         
12. Petrou, P., Chiotaki, R., Dalezios, Y., Chalepakis, G.: “Overlapping and divergent localization of Frem1 and Fras1 and its functional implications during mouse embryonic development.” Exp. Cell Res. (2007), 313: 910-920        
13. Petrou, P., Pavlakis, E., Dalezios, Y., Galanopoulos, VK., Chalepakis, G.: “Basement membrane distortions impair lung lobation and capillary organization in the mouse model for Fraser syndrome.” J. Biol. Chem. (2005), 280: 10350-10356                
14. Vrontou, S., Petrou, P., Meyer, BI., Galanopoulos, VK., Imai, K., Yanagi, M.,   Chowdhury, K., Scambler, PJ., Chalepakis, G.: “Fras1 deficiecy results in cryptophthalmos, renal agenesis and blebbed phenotype in mice.” Nat. Genet. (2003), 34: 209-214                
15. Goudreau, G., Petrou, P., Reneker L. W, Graw, J., Loster, J., Gruss, P.   “Mutually regulated expression of Pax6 and Six3 and its implications for the Pax6 haploinsufficient lens phenotype.” Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, (2002), 99: 8719-8724