Research lines: -Chromatin Remodeling and Gene expression -Cancer epigenetics -Epigenetic changes during cell differentiation and development

The "Chromatin integrity and Function" group is a basic research team whose main scientific aim is understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying genome instability, paying a particular attention to the role of chromatin. Specifically, our research is focused in two major lines: role of chromatin assembly on genome regulation and stability, and study of the mechanisms of DNA damage tolerance. The group is formed by the principal investigator, a senior PhD, and a variable number of posdoc and PhD students.

The research group investigates 1) the molecular bases and treatment of rare diseases and 2) how oxidative Damage modulates DNA repair and replication. Our model organisms include yeast and human cell lines.

The research in our group aims to advance in our knowledge about the signaling pathways that orchestrate the progression through the cell cycle, as well as to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which the main cellular checkpoints ensure the fidelity of chromosome segregation and the maintenance of the correct ploidy during cell division. Additionally, we are particularly interested in understanding how the above-mentioned processes are coordinated with the establishment of polarity during asymmetric cell divisions.

We are an interdisciplinary research group combining biophysical, cell biology, biochemistry and molecular biology methodologies. Two are our main research focuses: from one side, we are interested in the study of the molecular mechanisms that underlie protein-protein and protein-membrane interactions, using as model system bacterial toxins, in particular, the adenylate cyclase toxin, which are essential virulence factors produced by different bacterial pathogens (e.g. Bordetella pertussis, Escherichia coli, ...).

Our objective is to determine the molecular mechanism by which membrane glycoproteins of some viruses (HIV, Ebola) induce the fusion of the cell and viral membranes. Prediction tools have been developed to detect the domains that are inserted into the target membrane. In parallel, we are studying the mechanism of cell membrane permeabilisation, induced by certain viral products (viroporins) during infection (this work on viroporins is in collaboration with L. Carrasco, CBM, Madrid).

Morphological flexibility of cell membranes provides the foundation for the spatial organization of living cells. The signature morphologies of cellular endomembrane systems are created at the nanoscale where specialized proteolipid complexes assemble to control membrane curvature, shape and topology.

Living systems host a crowd of molecular chaperones that act with different mechanisms and serve to maintain protein homeostasis. Our group studies nuclear and cytosolic chaperones. Among the cytosolic chaperones we are interested in members of the Hsp60, Hsp70 and Hsp100 families.

Our research activity is focused on computational and mathematical analysis of biological systems at their various levels of organization, from molecular properties to cell behaviour and the role these play in the cell population dynamics. The main objective is to deepen our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and to use this information for the controlling and designing cellular processes.

The research interest of the group is focused in the study of cardiovascular disease, metabolism, atherosclerosis, atherothrombosis and the ischemic syndromes. 1. Basic Science . LRP family proteins in chronic diseases. . Molecular determinants of cardiovascular disease in obesity. . Identification and characterization of transcription factors and genetic targets. Role of HDL and LDL. . Vascular impact of ischemia and angiogenesis in heart disease. Cell therapy. 2. Translational Research in Collaboration with Clinical Groups . Familial hypercholesterolemia and its impact. .