Cell biology and Biotechnology

Our research group is interested in understanding the mechanisms that regulate cell size and growth in eukaryotes, as well as the dynamics of microtubules and their impact on cell division. Using Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a model organism and a multidisciplinary approach, we aim to unravel the fundamental processes that control cellular homeostasis and cytoskeleton organization during the eukaryotic cell cycle.

Regulation of cell size and growth

Precise control of cell size is essential for the viability and functionality of organisms. S. pombe is a unicellular eukaryotic organism whose size and shape are tightly regulated, reaching a length of 14 microns at the time of cell division. Growth is regulated by a set of proteins that coordinate cell expansion with cell cycle progression. Our group aims to identify factors involved in the regulation of these processes and understand their key roles in modulating cell growth and determining size at division. Our approaches include metabolic studies, proteomics, and genetic screenings.

Recently, we have identified the ceramide synthesis pathway as a novel element involved in cell size control, and we are interested in assigning a molecular role to these factors, which play key roles in cellular signaling.

Microtubule nucleation and dynamics in cell division

Microtubules are essential components of the cytoskeleton that actively participate in mitotic spindle organization and chromosome segregation. Proper assembly of the mitotic spindle is crucial to prevent errors in genetic material distribution, which can lead to aneuploidy, a common feature in many human pathologies.

In recent years, we have investigated the role of key regulators (Mto1, Alp7, Alp14...) in microtubule nucleation and stabilization, fundamental processes for precise and efficient mitosis. Our current focus is on the molecular signals that trigger the activation of microtubule-nucleating complexes, with particular attention to mitotic entry and spindle assembly.