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.

Research on the mechanisms of skeletal muscle specification, determination, and differentiation during embryonic and postnatal development as well as those related to muscle function and homeostasis.

Our group studies how two-dimensional epithelial sheets of cells reorganize during development to make specific organs. To address this issue we are following two complementary lines of research: (1) Control of Hox induced morphogenesis and (2) Study of the Drosophila JAK/STAT signalling function during development.

Study of cellular mechanisms that interact with mitochondrial function and affect metabolism and ageing

Molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating cell migration and morphogenesis

Higher eukaryotes contain populations of stem cells responsible for the homeostasis of adult organisms. Often, these populations are found in microenvironments or ‘niches’ that prevent the pull towards differentiation characteristic of most cell types. One such a niche has been described in the Drosophila ovary, where germline stem cells (GSCs) are found.

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.

. The group analyzes molecular, cellular and physiological aspects of mitochondrial function to identify the processes affected in mitochondrial diseases. Specialization in Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency

Under the strong selective pressure soil bacteria have due to competition for limited nutrients, they have developed the ability to grow using a wide range of unusual substrates, which include numerous organic pollutants. Our group characterizes the biodegradation of organic contaminants and the regulation of genes involved, a research line of great interest due to the increase of these contaminants in the environment over the past years due to industrial activity and the challenge posed by the new waste generated through chemical synthesis.

Apoptotic microtubules network during the execution phase of apoptosis Selective mitochondrial degradation (mitophagy) in mitochondrial diseases