EXPRELA is a research group with a long trajectory in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. This basic knowledge has also been applied to the development of biological tools for the expression of proteins of interest using microorganisms as cell factories. The diverse capacities developed by the group's members allow multidisciplinary approaches to solve research challenges with industrial and biomedical applications.

Currently, basic research topics of interest to the group are related to the control of gene expression through various mechanisms: transcription factors, lncRNAs, and interactomes, developing projects in this line oriented to biomedicine.

EXPRELA’s basic research lines also focus on the purification, production and modification of proteins. The group studies the structure and function of proteins with biotechnological, biomedical or nutritional applications. Obtaining new stable enzymes with high catalytic capacity in industrial conditions, and the production of enzymes for prebiotics’ preparation stand out from their expertise.

• Line 1: Regulation of gene expression and cancer
  The main challenge in the treatment of ovarian cancer is focused on getting an initial diagnosis before the disease reaches a worse prognosis stage. HMGB proteins, related to oxidative stress, are implicated in several types of cancer, including ovarian cancer, where the expression of HMGB1/2 is increased. They are also proteins capable of binding to RNA stabilizing it. We investigated The group researches into lncRNA-HMGB interactions that can be detected in early stages of the disease, as well as deepening knowledge of the sequences involved in the interaction between both types of molecules, looking for possible therapeutic targets. In this project, EXPRELA collaborates with INIBIC through the Oncology Service of CHUAC, counting on the oncologist María Quindós Varela.
  
  
• Line 2: Protein expression and modification systems with industrial, health and nutritional applications
  The group is currently developing a biotechnological process to convert wheat straw into products with high added value derived from the hemicellulosic fraction with interesting applications in the food industry such as prebiotics, encapsulating agents and thickeners. For this purpose, EXPRELA intends to apply a suitable combination of a thermophilic xylanase and beta-xylosidase in order to modulate the hydrolysis of straw to the targeted production of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) with different degree of polymerization depending on the type of application required. This project is carried out in collaboration with the group of Professor María Luisa Rúa from the University of Vigo.

Knowledge Transfer

The group has collaborated with several companies in the food sector such as Queizuar S.L., químico, as Galchimia or biotechnological, as Proteos-Biotech, among others.

• Technological offer of the group related to enzymes  
• Technological offer of the group related to already available metagenomic-libraries or commissions for new preparations 

_{This research group takes part in several PhD Programmes: "Advanced Biotechnology" and "Cellular and Molecular Biology".}

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