Cell Physiology & NMR

 

Helena Santos

RESEARCH

Biotechnology of Hyperthermophiles

Systems Engineering of Lactic Acid Bacteria

Physiology of hyperthermophiles. Main objectives: genetic and biochemical characterization of biosynthetic pathways of novel compatible solutes; regulation of biosynthesis; identification of strategies for adaptation to hot environments; development of microbial cell systems for the industrial production of hypersolutes; characterization of the molecular basis for protein stabilization by solutes; effects on protein structure and dynamics.

The two major objects of research are Lactic Acid Bacteria (Systems Biology of Lactococcus lactis) and

 Hyperthermophilic Microorganisms (osmo- and thermo-adaptation in Bacteria and Archaea).

Physiology of LAB (in coll. with A. R. Neves, ITQB). In vivo NMR is used to measure on line the dynamics of intracellular metabolites and co-factors (Metabolomics) with the aim to provide reliable data to be used as guidelines for efficient metabolic engineering strategies. One goal is to characterize central metabolism and regulatory networks taking advantage of global approaches. The team collaborates with USA groups with expertise in mathematical modeling for the integration of the data at multi-level organization.