The research group has an extensive experience in the study of molecular mechanisms that regulate the adaptation to changing environmental conditions of lichenic microalgae and vascular plants and their biotechnological application. This type of studies has been developed in different research lines:
a) Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of the response of lichenic microalgae to extreme conditions such as salinity, drainage and radiation.
b) Biotechnology of lichenic microalgae: transformation and obtaining natural products.
c) Characterisation of polyamine metabolism in the stress response of Arabidopsis thaliana. By means of transgenic manipulation, the polyamines (PAs) biosynthesis process has been manipulated, resulting in the obtaining of different plant lines with altered levels of putrescine, spermidine and/or spermine, which have been characterised at different levels, including metabolomic and transcriptomic studies. Most of the lines generated, plants with high levels of one or more PAs, show resistance to different environmental and biotic stresses.
d) Regulation of transcriptional programmes by DELLA and prefoldin proteins. These proteins act as transcriptional regulators whose accumulation depends on environmental conditions and which modulate the execution of multiple developmental programmes and stress responses by modifying the activity of transcription factors with which they physically interact.
- Biotechnological manipulation of the development and response to environmental conditions of lichenic microalgae and vascular plants.
- Analysis of biostimulants of organic origin and their effect on crops
Line of work carried out in collaboration with the company DADELOS SA. Two approaches are developed: The identification and semi-quantitative analysis by mass spectrometry of the chemical components of the different products. The analysis of the effect of the products on crops.
- Transcriptional mechanisms involved in the adaptation of lichen microalgae to extreme environmental conditions
Lichen microalgae play a very active role in the ability of lichens to survive in extreme environmental conditions. The aim of this line of work is to know the transcriptional mechanisms that modulate this response.
- Adaptation mechanisms of higher plants to adverse environmental conditions
Plants have developed mechanisms to deal with adverse environmental conditions, like storing up polyamines (PAs). We intend to characterise the role of PAs as molecules that regulate the response to stress and their interactions with other phytohormones.
- Biotechnological applications of lichen microalgae
Lichen microalgae are able to grow in solid or liquid environments under conditions that are difficult for other organisms to grow in. This fact makes them candidates for being used in bioreactors or for producing biomass and compounds obtained by transformation.
- Metabolic adaptations associated to the adaptation of lichen microalgae to extreme environmental conditions
Lichen microalgae play a very active role in the ability of lichens to survive in extreme environmental conditions. The aim of this line of work is to determine the metabolites involved in the adaptation of lichen microalgae to extreme conditions such as desiccation or cold in order to develop possible biotechnological applications for crops tolerance.
- CARRASCO SORLI, PEDRO MIGUEL
- PDI-Catedratic/a d'Universitat
- Director/a Parc Cientific
- MARCO PICO, FRANCISCO
- PDI-Titular d'Universitat
- PEÑARRUBIA BLASCO, DOLORES
- PDI-Catedratic/a d'Universitat
- CARMEN CERDAN, RODRIGO
- Doctorand.
Colaborador/ Colaboradora
- David Alabadí Diego - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Madrid)
- Miguel Angel Blazquez Rodriguez - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Madrid)
Burjassot/Paterna Campus
C/ Doctor Moliner, 50
46100 Burjassot (Valencia)
- CARRASCO SORLI, PEDRO MIGUEL
- PDI-Catedratic/a d'Universitat
- Director/a Parc Cientific
