The Plant Molecular Genetics Department is engaged in the study, at the molecular and cellular levels, of the regulatory pathways that control plant development, adaptation to the environment, and defence responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Research lines pursued by the different groups in the department focus on developmental processes such as root architecture, shoot branching, photomorphogenesis and photoperiodism. Plant adaptive responses to nutrient shortage, to toxic concentrations of metals, or defensive responses to pests and pathogens are also subject to intense research efforts. In addition to the intrinsic interest of the key biological questions that underlie these processes, our work aims at generating new tools and knowledge for improving crop production. For this ultimate goal, we exploit natural diversity resources as well as genetic engineering, including CRISPR/Cas9 technology for precise genome editing, as promising tools and methods. Direct biotechnological applications of plants are also addressed, such as their use as biopharmaceutical factories or as tools for alleviating metal pollution and related environmental conditions. The model species Arabidopsis thaliana is the routine system of choice for our research, with much experimental work also carried out in Nicotiana benthamiana. Substantial effort has recently been devoted to the development of novel, more amenable model species for plant research, such as the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha or the duckweed Lemna spp. Crops such as tomato, potato and Prunus are also major subjects of our studies, to which knowledge generated in the model species is applied..
Head of Department: Antonio Leyva
OUR RESEARCH GROUPS:
Natural variation in plant development. Carlos Alonso-Blanco
Plant immunity strategies against microbial pathogen infection. Carmen Castresana
Genetic control of shoot branching patterns in plants. Pilar Cubas
Regulation of Gene Expression in Plants. Jose Manuel Franco
Plant-pathogen interaction in viral infections. Juan A. García and Carmen Simón
Mechanisms underlying nutrient uptake and phytoremediation. Antonio Leyva
Regulation of gene activity in plants: the phosphate starvation rescue system. Javier Paz-Ares
Signalling networks in plant development and defence responses. José J. Sánchez Serrano and Enrique Rojo
Role of ubiquitin in the control of plant growth and stress tolerance. Vicente Rubio
Jasmonate signalling in plants. Roberto Solano
JUNIOR PROJECT LEADERS
Light signalling and plant adaptation to the environment. Sandra Fonseca
Molecular mechanisms regulating plant resistance against phytopathogenic bacteria. Selena Giménez
Plant bio-factories as a sustainable source of high-value compounds. Eduardo González Grandío
Unravelling chloroplast protein quality control in plants. Pablo Pulido
Plant-virus coevolution. Adrian Valli
Proteostasis in the plant immune system. Jorge Vicente
