During animal development the organism cells restrict their developmental potential while acquire the different cell fates. These cells' responses depend on the extracellular cues they perceive and intrinsic factors they express and often require the precise modification of gene expression in both time and space. For example, appendage formation requires the activation of a set of genes that specifies a group of cells that will proliferate and pattern to generate the characteristic adult structure.

Research in my laboratory is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms and cellular functions of proteins and how their defects can lead to disease. We are particularly interested in explaining protein malfunction, in identifying disease-causing variants, and in helping to find new therapeutic strategies to amend the activity of the faulty proteins. My group’s approach itegrates biochemical and biophysical methods to define the structure, function and evolution of these macromolecular targets.

Role of nuclear pore proteins (nucleoporins) in nuclear envelope structure and function; chromatin organization; chromosome segregation; post-mitotic nuclear envelope formation; High-throughput RNAi screening.

The projects conducted in our laboratory are aimed at understanding how cells acquire their characteristic shape and how they maintain nuclear architecture and genomic integrity. To study these questions, we are using a simple eukaryote, genetically tractable fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, as a model organism. Fission yeast is a useful model for addressing these problems, due to its easy genetics, availability of genome-wide collection of gene deletions and well developed microscopic, genetic and molecular biology tools.

Desarrollo floral en Arabidopsis

The activities of the group of "plant viruses control and mechanisms of transmission" are devoted to perform basic and applied research on plant virology, with a main focus on control strategies of viral diseases in crops. The mechanisms of virus transmission by insect vectors like aphids and whiteflies are being studied in depth, including the functional characterization of viral and vector molecular elements participating in the processes of virus dissemination.

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Research on bioactive molecules and their biotransformation emphasizing on nitrogen heterocycles, indoles and alkaloids (carbolines). In addition to investigating their presence in foods and medicinal plants, we study their activity as substrates and inhibitors of oxidoreductases, and their involvement in the generation and/or scavenging of free radicals and new toxic and bioactive agents.

The research team aims its research at the study of the health beneficial properties of dietary polyphenols and other boiactive compounds present in the diet. Focusing at the study of polyphenols bioavailability and metabolism, antioxidant effects, inflammation and effects on cardiovascular system and, more recently, on neurocognition and vision.

The Meat and Meat Products group engages essentially in research on both basic/applied science and technological applications designed to improve the quality and safety of meat and meat products, and also on the development of healthier meat products.