Molecular mechanisms of exocytosis in a neuroendocrine model: the involvement of cytoskeleton and SNARE complex proteins The elucidation of the mechanism causing the release of neurotransmitters and hormones by membrane exocytosis is essential to understand how the nervous and endocrine systems perform their function. Our group has been contributing to the knowledge of cytoskeletal –mediated transport as well as the SNARE induced fusion in chromaffin cells, a well reputed model of exocytosis, through the publication of more than 30 articles in the last 10 years.

to study the double role of sensory neurons innervating the ocular surface, responsible for the genesis of sensations evoked by stimulation of ocular tissues as well as for the trophic maintenance of ocular structures

Our laboratory is interested in brain mechanisms supporting global integration of information and its storage into enduring memories. Research over the last years suggests that these processes depend on the interaction of molecular, cellular and systems-level mechanisms. In our lab we approach this complexity with a truly multidisciplinary strategy that simultaneously combines functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electrophysiology, molecular biology and behavioral studies. The basic knowledge gathered in the lab is being translated to the clinics.

ABA plays a crucial role for plant response to abiotic stress and regulation of plant growth and development. For instance, drought increases ABA levels and plant response to ABA is a key adaptive mechanism to resist drought stress. Thus, elucidating the ABA signaling pathway holds enormous promise for biotechnological application in agriculture. Key details of the pathway have been elucidated recently, such as the discovery of the 14-member PYR/PYL/RCAR family of ABA-receptors.

This group focuses in the study of the molecular mechanisms that underlie hormone signaling, the interactions between signaling pathways, and their physiological relevance in the context of plant development.

The Evolutionary and Systems Virology Group investigates fundamental genetic, ecological and epidemiological mechanisms driving the emergence and evolution of viruses. Our approach to viral evolution is three-fold: (1) development of mathematical and simulation models describing virus population dynamics, (2) experimental evolution of viral populations and characterization of the molecular basis of adaptation to new host species, and (3) molecular epidemiology and phylogeography of plant viruses.

Our research aims to the study of the mechanisms involved in the resistance of plants to biotic agents (viroids, viruses, bacteria, fungi) with a specific focus on the plant response to biotic aggressions. By using biochemical, molecular and mainly metabolomic approaches, we want to unravel the mechanisms underlying the adaptation of plants to pathogen attack. Our main goal is to develop new biotechnological strategies in order to obtain a sustainable control of plants pests and diseases.

The group is dedicated to both observational cosmology, and instrumentation related to the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and dark matter search. In relation to the former, we focus on the study of the cosmic microwave background, the mapping of galaxies, galaxy clusters, and radio and infrared galaxies.

The research lines of the group focus on the study of non linear and stochastic phenomena in physical systems by means of both teoretical-computational and experimental approaches. The group works in the study of high-dimensional chaos, as well as in the effects of noise and disorder in physical systems. On the theoretical side, the expertise of the group includes critical phenomena and phase transitions, nonlinear dynamics, nonlinear analysis techniques in time series, photonic systems, Monte Carlo simulations, integration of stochastic partial differential equations, and so on.