RESEARCH SUMMARY

Viruses & cells

The Cell Structure Lab investigates the biogenesis of organelles and functional macromolecular complexes in cells. In particular we study the assembly and architecture of virus factories, replication complexes and morphogenetic pathways of several RNA viruses that are important human pathogens such as Bunyaviruses, Reoviruses, Retroviruses and Rubella virus.

We are searching for factors involved in the biogenesis of all factories to understand how viruses manipulate cell structure and create new organelles. We are also interested in mechanisms of cellular immunity. In our multidisciplinary projects we use molecular and cell biology methods, biochemistry, virology, live cell microscopy, confocal, correlative and electron microscopy and electron tomography.

From live cells to molecules

Correlative microscopy methods consist in the selection of individual live cells with particular interesting features for a structural analysis at higher resolution. The ultrastructural characterization can be done by conventional electron microscopy or using more advanced techniques for three-dimensional studies such as electron tomography. We can now visualize cells under more native conditions thanks to developments made in specimen preparation at low temperatures (cryo-microscopy). The development of new strategies for molecular mapping is a big challenge and new labelling methods will be necessary to understand how macromolecules build organelles and cells.

In our lab we have recently validated a new clonable tag for electron microscopy. Tagged proteins can now be detected in cells without antibodies whose low sensitivity and poor resolution are major limitations of immunogold assays. The new methodology will open new avenues for qualitative and quantitative analysis of intracellular protein distribution and for the study of the biogenesis of functional protein complexes at molecular scale resolution.

Colaborations and training

Our lab maintains a number of collaborations with external groups in the fields of virus-cell interactions and structural biology. In Spain we work with groups of the Spanish Research Council (CSIC), the Complutense University, the Barcelona Scientific Park and the University of La Laguna.

We collaborate with laboratories in The Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, France and USA. Master students, undergraduate students and lab technicians are welcome to joint our group for a specialized training.