Control of cell division and genome replication: implications of epigenetic modifications

Synaptic connections in the brain are continuously remodeled in response to neuronal activity. This process, known as synaptic plasticity, is widely accepted as the cellular basis for learning and memory, and it is also critical for the establishment of functional neuronal circuits during development. Additionally, several neurological and neurodegenerative diseases (such as schizophrenia, mental retardation and Alzheimer's disease) have been correlated with deficits in synaptic plasticity.

Our laboratory is interested in understanding the role of lipids in neuronal physiology and pathology focusing on their participation in synapses. In recent years our knowledge about the protein machinery that controls synaptic transmission has greatly increased. However, much less is known about the contribution of lipids to this process despite the fact that binding to the membrane, of which lipids are major components, modulates the activity of essential synaptic proteins. Moreover, synaptic transmission relies on membrane dynamics.

Characterization of the molecular mechanisms for the formation of the lumen during epithelial morphogenesis, focusing on the identification and functional characterization of new proteins involved, using a combination of three-dimensional cell cultures (3D) in micropatterns, with mouse and zebrafish epithelia.

Ecology, molecular biology and biotechnology of extreme acidic environments. Geomicrobiological characterization of extreme environments. Microbial ecology of extreme environments. Mycology

The role playing by RNA-binding proteins in physiological situations as development, or pathophysiological situations as the interface of the apoptosis regulation and the development and/or establishment of the program of cell proliferation/transformation or cancer, as well as aging-associated diseases/pathologies such as Welander distal myopathy.

Functional and structural analysis of RNA regions involved in translation control. RNA-binding proteins involved in postrancriptional control of gene expression

Our group studies the involvement of thioredoxins (Trxs) and thioredoxin reductases (NTRs) in mechanisms of redox regulation in plants, focusing on the function of NTRC, an enzyme first described by our group (Serrato et al. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279:43821-43827). Recently, we have proposed a novel model for chloroplast redox regulation according to which, the reductive activation of biosynthetic enzymes in this organelle depends of the redox state of 2-Cys peroxiredoxin, an enzyme that reduces hydrogen peroxide to water (Pérez-Ruiz et al. (2017) PNAS 114:12069-12074).

The main goal of our research is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular adaptation to changing conditions and stress. To this aim, we use the model photosynthetic organisms Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Arabidopsis thaliana. Our group has been pioneer in the study of the TOR signaling pathway, a master regulator of cell growth, and autophagy, a degradative process by which cells maintain cellular homeostasis and cope with limiting conditions and stress that is negatively controlled by TOR.

The research of the group has focused from its beginning on the metabolism of sulfur in plants. Our main focus is the study of cysteine ​​biosynthesis and metabolism and recently signaling by molecules related to cysteine. We have been pioneers in establishing a change of concept, so that these molecules are involved in the signaling pathways that regulate essential processes in the plant, such as the responses to both abiotic and biotic adverse conditions, autophagy and the root hair development.