Genetic Stability Lab

 

What We Do

The Genetic Stability Group is studying the diverse processes of genomic stability in Firmicutes, using Bacillus subtilis as a model system. The understanding of the mechanisms employed by this bacterium to survive DNA damages by recombinational repair, and to provide genetic variation via genetic recombination, which have a major impact on genome structure, is of great importance from the evolutionary, medical and biotechnological point of view. Genetic recombination accounts for antigenic variation, silent switches and the mosaic structure of the pathogenic genes.

  Homologous recombination plays an active role in the generation of genetic diversity, by duplications, translocations, deletions, insertions and the reshuffling of genes. Those are essential steps both in evolution and in development. To gain insight into the molecular nature of microbial pathogenicity, in the utilization of living organisms for the benefit of mankind, and to assess their importance, we are using several different model systems. We study at the genetic and biochemical level: i) genetic recombination in B. subtilis (a bacterium that develops natural competence), ii) the chromosomal and plasmid transformation machineries, iii) the  motor and the centromer  proteins  of the pSM19035-encoded partition system, and iv)  and the - module of the pSM19035-encoded partition system.  


Where We Are




  Prof. Juan Carlos Alonso Navarro

        Phone: (34)-91-585 4546

        FAX:   (34)-91-585 4506

        Email: jcalonso@cnb.csic.es



CENTRO NACIONAL DE BIOTECNOLOGIA, CSIC, Campus de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Darwin 3, Contablanco, 28049 MADRID, ESPAÑA