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.

Study of the regulation of the biosynthesis of coenzyme Q in eukaryotes: Implications of CoQ on aging and modifications of fibroblasts in ataxia. Caloric restriction: bioenergetic, oxidative damage and aging.

Our group focuses its research on the study of intracellular and intercellular mechanisms that are activated in response to injury, particularly in liver and neurodegenerative diseases as well as processes of carcinogenesis. Our work combines cell models and primary cultures with animal models that mimic human diseases. The ultimate goal is a better understanding of the signaling involved in diseases allows developing therapeutic interventions to improve the treatment of human disease. The main lines of research we address are: - Therapeutic targets in Alzheimer's disease (Dr.

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

Work in the group is focused on the study of molecular regulatory mechanisms in bacterial metabolism and biofilm development, and the application of such knowledge to processes of biotechnological or environmental interest.

Desarrollo floral en Arabidopsis

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.

Our research interest is to study the mechanisms by which plants perceive and respond to changes in their light environment, specifically in the regulation of the light-induced developmental transition that occurs during seedling deetiolation and in the regulation of growth under diurnal conditions. The primary focus of our research is to identify the dark signaling mechanisms that operate in the regulation of these plant processes, using Arabidopsis as a model system and integrating a combination of multidisciplinary experimental approaches.

Gene Regulatory networks in plant development The global aim of the group is the characterization and understanding of gene regulatory networks underlying plant development, using a combination of genomic and genetic methods. Our work encompasses both the identification of novel components of those regulatory networks and of regulatory interactions among network components.

Molecular mechanisms of circadian clock function in Arabidopsis thaliana A wide variety of biological processes exhibit a cyclic pattern of activity with a period of 24 hours. The temporal coordination of these rhythms is regulated by an endogenous mechanism denominated circadian clock. From bacteria to humans, the presence of the circadian clock has provided a remarkable adaptive advantage throughout evolution. In past years, considerable research efforts have clearly improved our understanding of circadian clock progression.