Antioxidants are molecules that prevent the oxidation of other molecules and serve a key role in all aerobic organisms, including plants. They are not only essential in aspects of central metabolism, such as photosynthesis, but also in the regulation of plant development, from germination to senescence. We aim at better understanding the role of antioxidant vitamins (vitamins C and E) and other antioxidant compounds (carotenoids and anthocyanins) not only in photoprotection, but also in the regulation of plant development, from germination to flowering and fruit development.
The main function of vitamin E, formed by tocopherols and tocotrienols, is that of a lipophilic antioxidant with particular importance in the control of the redox homeostasis within the chloroplast. In this organelle, it is capable of eliminating singlet oxygen and, in addition, it is the only antioxidant counteracting lipid peroxidation. We focus our research on the antioxidant mechanisms of tocopherols operating at the chloroplast level, as well as their roles in physiological processes at the whole-plant level from seed germination to senescence. We seek to unravel whether or not these roles at the whole-plant level (e.g., gemination, flowering or fruit development and ripening) can be explained through their antioxidant function at the cellular level, or by contrast other mechanisms underlie the biological function of tocopherols in these biological processes.
Oxylipins arise from the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and they are essential as both redox and hormonal signals, controlling plant development and stress responses. We currently focus on elucidating the role of different oxylipins as signaling molecules regulating the response to multiple abiotic stresses, such as the response to a combination of temperature and salinity stress in different plant tissues of tomato plants, as well as elucidating their role in different physiological processes, such as foliar abscission.
Traditionally, jasmonates have been associated with plant defense, specially to biotic stress. However, its role in abiotic stress response is also of great importance. In model plants, it has been proved to be involved in responses against temperature stress, as well as, metal ions stress or UV-B and ozon stress. We focus on the study of the jasmonates role in abiotic stress tolerance in non-model species, such as Sempervivum tectorum and Olea europaea, under both controlled and natural environments.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play essential roles in stress acclimation and plant development. However, they are still considered harmful molecules due to their high reactivity which can lead to lipid peroxidation. This lipid peroxidation can lead to the formation of different products among which we can find the malondialdehyde (MDA). MDA is often used as an indicator of damage in plant membranes, however, when produced transiently, it may be participating in acclimation processes activating regulatory genes involved in plant defense and development. We currently focus on the role of MDA as a signal molecule under different stress conditions, such as the response in Lens culinaris to drought stress, as well as its implications in the regulation of essential biological functions such as plastid conversion and flower opening.
Antioxidants are molecules that prevent the oxidation of other molecules and serve a key role in all aerobic organisms, including plants. They are not only essential in aspects of central metabolism, such as photosynthesis, but also in the regulation of plant development, from germination to senescence. We aim at better understanding the role of antioxidant vitamins (vitamins C and E) and other antioxidant compounds (carotenoids and anthocyanins) not only in photoprotection, but also in the regulation of plant development, from germination to flowering and fruit development.
The main function of vitamin E, formed by tocopherols and tocotrienols, is that of a lipophilic antioxidant with particular importance in the control of the redox homeostasis within the chloroplast. In this organelle, it is capable of eliminating singlet oxygen and, in addition, it is the only antioxidant counteracting lipid peroxidation. We focus our research on the antioxidant mechanisms of tocopherols operating at the chloroplast level, as well as their roles in physiological processes at the whole-plant level from seed germination to senescence. We seek to unravel whether or not these roles at the whole-plant level (e.g., gemination, flowering or fruit development and ripening) can be explained through their antioxidant function at the cellular level, or by contrast other mechanisms underlie the biological function of tocopherols in these biological processes.
Oxylipins arise from the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and they are essential as both redox and hormonal signals, controlling plant development and stress responses. We currently focus on elucidating the role of different oxylipins as signaling molecules regulating the response to multiple abiotic stresses, such as the response to a combination of temperature and salinity stress in different plant tissues of tomato plants, as well as elucidating their role in different physiological processes, such as foliar abscission.
Traditionally, jasmonates have been associated with plant defense, specially to biotic stress. However, its role in abiotic stress response is also of great importance. In model plants, it has been proved to be involved in responses against temperature stress, as well as, metal ion stress or UV-B and ozon stress. We focus on the study of the jasmonates role in abiotic stress tolerance in non-model species, such as Sempervivum tectorum and Olea europaea, under both controlled and natural environments.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play essential roles in stress acclimation and plant development. However, they are still considered harmful molecules due to their high reactivity which can lead to lipid peroxidation. This lipid peroxidation can lead to the formation of different products among which we can find the malondialdehyde (MDA). MDA is often used as an indicator of damage in plant membranes, however, when produced transiently, it may be participating in acclimation processes activating regulatory genes involved in plant defense and development. We currently focus on the role of MDA as a signal molecule under different stress conditions, such as the response in Lens culinaris to drought stress, as well as its implications in the regulation of essential biological functions such as plastid conversion and flower opening.
