The group was created in 1997 as a Quality Group (Generalitat de Catalunya) and became a CSIC group in 2004. Currently it includes 6 senior scientists, 3 RyC, 7 postdocs, 14 PhD students and 7 technicians. Its main goal is understanding the ecological role of marine microbes. The group applies complementary tools to samples from oceanographic cruises, coastal observatories and lab experiments.

In our research we explore the relations between the biology of microalgae and their production of metabolites (pigments and toxins), paying special attention to the effects of environmental factors (especially the light and those related with global change).

Ecophysiology, Biomarkes and Sustainable Management of Bivalves (EsMaBa)

The food biochemistry research group was born in 2000, the team is formed by two researchers, Ricardo Perez Martín (Professor) and Carmen Glez Sotelo (Senior researcher), one permanent Research Assistant with a PhD degree, Maria Blanco, another Research Assistant with a Higher Degree, Graciela Ramilo (Biology), Begoña Correa García Research Assistant specialized, she has a degree in Biology, and two permanent Research assistants: Marta Pérez Testa and Helena Pazó Malvido.

Mathematical modelling, simulation, optimization and control of bioprocesses The production, extraction, processing and preservation of raw biological materials (bioproducts) of marine origin constitutes the core of several food and biotechnological sectors with major socio-economical importance in Spain and, more in particular, in Galicia.

Functions of the glucan synthases in cell wall morphogenesis, polarity, cytokinesis and cell integrity. Study of the mechanism of action and resistance to antifungals that specifically inhibit the synthesis of the cell wall glucan.

Our group is focused on the molecular mechanisms (checkpoints) monitoring meiotic chromosome dynamics to avoid chromosome missegregation and the formation of aneuploid gametes.

The bacteria included in the genus Streptomyces have a great industrial importance due to its wide capacity to produce and secrete various hydrolytic enzymes an a huge number of secondary metabolites, mainly antibiotics. They also have a basic interest because they undergo complex differentiation process that goes through various stages: spores, substrate mycelium, aerial mycelium and spores again. Our group is developing several lines of research in these areas.

The main interest of our group is to understand how cells coordinate cell growth and division with cell differentiation. To study this biological problem we use the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, a unicellular organism widely used in cell cycle research.

1) Development of new chemical processes, more efficient than conventional ones and with reduced environmental impact. 2) Application of these methodologies to the synthesis of potential drugs or agrochemicals. 3) Synthesis of alkaloids 4) Synthesis of nucleoside analogues (azanucleosides, C-nucleosides, acyclic nucleosides) 5) Synthesis of non-proteinogenic amino acids and amino acid analogues. 6) Site-selective peptide modification 7) Development of antimicrobial and/or antitumoral peptides 8) Development of peptide catalysts 9) Development of activators of plant natural defenses against bio