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.
Study of the kinetic and thermodynamic properties of membrane-active complexes. Description of the structure of active complexes and their formation mechanisms.
Methodology: Infrared, UV-Vis, DC and fluorescence spectroscopies. Fluorescence microscopy. AFM nanoscopy. Langmuir monocaps. Molecular simulations. Theoretical diffusion models. Statistical analysis.
Our group has characterised a new important regulator of the Start transition: Whi7. Whi7 acts as a transcriptional repressor of the Start programme, collaborating with Whi5 in this function, so that, as occurs in mammals with the Rb family, the control of cell cycle initiation depends on the interplay between different repressors. The group's work aims to advance in the characterisation of the regulation and function of Whi7 and its comparison with Whi5 in different physiological conditions, which may help to understand how the action of different repressors is coordinated in the control of cell cycle initiation. In addition, the relationship between Whi7 and the protein kinase C pathway is being investigated. The fact that a member of the Rb family is mutated in almost all tumours further reinforces the importance of studying the role of these G1 repressors.
Yeast Pkc1 and the mammalian PKCd isoform share the same function of controlling the genomic integrity checkpoint. A parallel study in both organisms is proposed to characterise the molecular keys to this mechanism.
Yeast Pkc1 and the mammalian PKCd isoform share the same function of controlling the genomic integrity checkpoint. A parallel study in both organisms is proposed to characterise the molecular keys to this mechanism.
Design of new polypeptide sequences with membrane activity from native proteins and peptides.
Methodologies: Computational analysis of polypeptide structures at various levels. Chemical synthesis of peptides.
Fundamental and applied limnology: Dynamics and functioning of epicontinental aquatic ecosystems. Community structure and functional diversity. Assessment of environmental and conservation status. Microbial ecology in lentic ecosystems: Study of the composition and functionality of the microbial community by molecular techniques. Metagenomics. Metabarcoding and e-DNA Biogeochemistry and carbon balances in Mediterranean wetlands, fluxes of carbonate greenhouse gases. Effects of environmental properties and conservation status on the climate change mitigation capacity of lentic ecosystems. Ecotoxicology. Geographic information systems (GIS). Remote-sensing. Polar limnology.
Analysis of histone marks during yeast cell ageing, globally and at the level of individual genes. Analysis of the enzyme complexes responsible for histone marks in old and young cells.
Our goal is to explore the mechanistic principles of membrane protein insertion, folding and assembly into lipid membranes and to investigate the factors that determine membrane protein stability.
Overexpression of membrane proteins is often essential for structural and functional studies, but yields are frequently too low. Therefore, we investigate the consequences of overexpression of different membrane proteins in search for new components to improve such yields.
Copper and iron are essential micronutrients for virtually all living organisms but are toxic when in excess. Our aim is to decipher how higher plants transport, distribute and use these metals and how they regulate metal homeostasis.
The group's work also focuses on the study of spatial regulatory mechanisms in cell cycle control, mechanisms that involve the control of the sub-cellular localisation of key proteins for progression in the cycle. In particular, the role of karyopherin Msn5 in the control of transcription factors (Swi6, Swi4, Mbp1, Swi1, Whi5) as well as Start cyclins (Cln1, Cln2) has been studied. Furthermore, determinants of cyclin functional specificity and the identification of new mechanisms controlling cyclin synthesis and degradation (Cln2, Clb2) are investigated.
The group's work also focuses on the study of spatial regulatory mechanisms in cell cycle control, mechanisms that involve the control of the subcellular localisation of key proteins for cell cycle progression. In particular, the role of the karyopherin Msn5 in the control of transcription factors (Swi6, Swi4, Mbp1, Swi5, Whi5) as well as Start cyclins (Cln1, Cln2) has been studied. Furthermore, determinants of cyclin functional specificity and the identification of new mechanisms controlling cyclin synthesis and degradation (Cln2, Clb2) are investigated.
- Study of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis toxins in both biopesticide formulations and transgenic plants.
- Study of the mechanisms of resistance to synthetic pesticides and promotion of their selectivity.
Our group has characterised a new important regulator of the Start transition: Whi7. Whi7 acts as a transcriptional repressor of the Start programme, collaborating with Whi5 in this function. So that, as occurs in mammals with the Rb family, the control of cell cycle initiation depends on the interplay between different repressors. The group's work aims to advance in the characterisation of the regulation and function of Whi7 and its comparison with Whi5 in different physiological conditions, which may help to understand how the action of different repressors is coordinated in the control of cell cycle initiation. In addition, the relationship between Whi7 and the protein kinase C pathway is being investigated. The fact that a member of the Rb family is mutated in almost all tumours further reinforces the importance of studying the role of these G1 repressors.
We are using several approaches to study human genetic diseases in Drosophila in order to dissect their pathogenesis pathways and identify biomarkers for diagnosis and/or progression, as well as to discover molecules with therapeutic potential.
