Durante los últimos años, nos hemos centrado en el estudio de la complejidad de la maquinaria de conjugación de SUMO maquinaria en plantas, utilizando Arabidopsis como modelo. En las plantas, la sumoylación regula procesos esenciales y se requiere un sistema de sumoylación funcional para la viabilidad del embrión. En general, plantas mutantes afectadas en la homeostasis de la conjugación de SUMO presentan defectos de crecimiento y respuestas a estrés alteradas.

In the Genetics and Genomics of Vegetable Crops Group we are producing and using genomic tools in vegetable crops in order to characterize important agronomic traits, in melon and related species. The objectives are performed in the framework of public funded projects or in collaboration with a private company, Semillas Fitó SA, in the framework of the Fitó-IRTA Joint Unit. We perform oriented research, basically produce basic knowledge that can be transferred to the private sector.

We use an interdisciplinary approach to study the impact of diffuse pollution on continental water resources and aquatic ecosystems in the context of global change. We are working on identifying and modelling any possible resulting stresses and impacts by nitrogen and phosphorous compounds on surface water and groundwater bodies and the biological communities that inhabit them.

The Nanomaterials Growth Division, led by Dr José Santiso, provides support in thin-film fabrication and film characterisation to ICN2 researchers and external collaborators. The Division specialises in fabrication of oxide thin-films and heterostructures by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) and Metal-Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition (MOCVD), as well as advanced structure characterisation of these films by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), and their electronic-ionic conductivity properties, among other techniques.

Mechanisms of cellular sensitivity to oxygen. Neurodegeneration and neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease. Pathophysiological mechanisms of hypertension and vascular spasm.

Our research group is an interdisciplinary team aimed to improve the health of consumers offering safe, of convenience and quality foods and ingredients from protein grains of interest, such as legumes, cereals and pseudocereals, and derived subproducts and coproducts of their industry using sustainable and innovative processing strategies. Novel biotechnological processes and emerging technologies are undertaken to contribute in the reduction of the onset of high prevalent chronic diseases.

This group studies relevant problems in Food Science, from an approach considering the techniques and methods of Biophysics. This group is naturally interdisciplinary, both in the questions studied and in the methodology employed. As a small and emerging group, a large part of its activity is organized around collaborative relations, mainly international.

Research lines: - Carotenoids and fat soluble vitamins: analysis, nutritional status and bioavailability in humans. - Lutein: intake, biomarkers of status and visual function.

The PREBIOIN group is made up of researchers with extensive experience in carbohydrates from a transversal perspective, within the food area.

The group studies the influence of dietary components (i.e. polyphenols) on the oral and gut microbiome and their impact on human health, including digestive function and neurodegenerative diseases. The group has developed a portfolio of omics and bioinformatics tools for the characterisation of the microbiome and its metabolic functionality.