PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:  Iván López Montero

 

GENERAL RESEARCH OBJECTIVE OF THE GROUP

 

The MML is a member of the UCM research group, BIOPHYS-HUB Biophysics for Biotechnology and Biomedicine. It also belongs to the Institute of Biomedical Research "Hospital 12 de Octubre". Our research is focused on understanding the membrane processes that occur in mitochondria to identify new therapeutic targets against mitochondrial diseases. Along with this general scientific objective, the MML is currently developing 2 lines of research using biophysical and biochemical approaches:

1. Lipid-protein interaction of mitochondrial systems We are especially interested in the study of mechanical and dynamic properties of ATP synthetase and the molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial fusion. Our systems are based on the reconstitution of membrane proteins in model membranes (monolayers, bilayers and vesicles) and we use a wide spectrum of experimental techniques including confocal fluorescence microscopy, FRAP, ICS, micromanipulation or RPE.

2. In collaboration with other groups in the department we develop and validate nanovectors for the transport and release of molecules with biomedical interest.

 

LINES OF THE RESEARCH GROUP AND RESPONSIBLE RESEARCHER

 

• Mitochondrial Membranes Biophysics