EXPRELA Regulation of gene expression and applications
EXPRELA is a research group with a long history 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 capabilities developed by the members of the group allow multidisciplinary approaches to solve research challenges with industrial and biomedical applications.
Currently, the basic research topics of interest for the group are related to the control of gene expression through diverse 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. The obtaining of new stable enzymes with high catalytic capacity under industrial conditions, as well as the production of enzymes for the preparation of prebiotics, stand out.
Research line 1 -Regulation of gene expression in cancer and other diseases
This research line is dedicated to the study of the expression of genes and proteins that are relevant in the diagnosis and therapy of chronic diseases, with special reference to ovarian cancer. The regulatory potential of non-histone proteins, like the HMGB family, and lncRNAs is studied in various molecular processes related to the disease, as well as their relationship with circulating vesicles generated by tumour cells. We are also studying peptide neoantigens derived from highly expressed lncRNAs in ovarian cancer, which can interact with the receptors of B lymphocytes infiltrating the tumour.
Research line 2 - Study of bioactive compounds and expression and modification of proteins with industrial and health applications
That research focuses on the discovery of lignocellulose-degrading and plastic-degrading enzymes using metagenomic approaches and more recently AI-driven methodologies to facilitate the identification and prediction of novel enzymes by analyzing large datasets. These enzymes are further modified through protein engineering to optimize their functionality for specific applications. Additionally, we investigate the prebiotic potential of compounds derived from enzymatic hydrolysis, such as xylooligosaccharides, examining their anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenic properties, as well as their effects on the gut microbiota-obesity axis and skin microbiota.
Patents
- "Production of β-galactosidase" (ES2012975B1).
- "Yeast strains capable of secreting β-galactosidase into the medium and its use for the production of biomass, ethanol, β-galactosidase and proteins of interest" (ES2319489B1).
- "Strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae able to grow on media containing melibiose, stachyose and raffinose" (ES2351296B1).
- "Thermophilic esterase from Thermus thermophilus' (ES2347398B1).
- "Thermophilic lipase' (ES2354326B1).
- "Yeast strain of Kluyveromyces lactis and process for obtaining sugars, ethanol, β-galactosidase and biomass" (PCT/ES2011/070550).
Existing contracts/agreements with companies
- "Use of mathematical modelling in tea- and hops-based nutraceutical products' (PCT/ES2011/070550). Call for proposals: Aid to support pilot projects, development of new products, practices, processes and technologies in the agroforestry sector. Axencia Galega da Calidade Alimentaria (Procedure code MR331A). Participating entities: UDC, Estación Fitopatológica de Areeiro, Orballo, S. L, Lúpulo, S. C. G e Glecex S. L. PI: Manuel Becerra Fernández (UDC). Duration: 01/04/2021 - 31/07/2023. Amount: 187,075.00 € (19,250 € UDC).
- "Study of the multiplication capacity of different yeast strains using brewers' bagasse as a substrate". Hijos de Rivera, S.A.U. Participating entities: UDC and Hijos de Rivera, S.A.U. PI: Manuel Becerra Fernández (UDC) Duration: 01/12/2021 - 31/12/2022. Amount: 12000 € +VAT= 14.520,00 € (UDC)
- Discovery new therapeutic pathways involved in the paracrine ferroptosis mediated by small extracellular vesicles in epithelial ovarian cancer (FERRSEV) (SEM2021-A2)
- Variaciones del microbioma y los ácidos biliares gastrointestinales tras cirugía bariátrica en pacientes obesos y su relación con cambios metabólicos (MICIBA) (SEM2021‐B3)
- Non-Conventional Yeasts for the Production of Bioproducts
- Las macroalgas marinas como fuentes emergentes de xilooligosacáridos y estudio de sus efectos prebióticos (PID2021-126194OB-C22)
- Inmunointeractoma de receptores linfocíticos y pequeños peptidos derivados de lncRNAs específicos de cáncer de ovario (IMLONGOC) (PID2021-124564OB-I00)
Technological offer
- Enzyme-related: https://ofertatec.udc.es/directorio/empresa/enzimas-de-interes-industrial/
- Related to metagenolithographs already available or orders for new preparations: https://ofertatec.udc.es/directorio/empresa/metaxenotecas/
PhD Programmes
This research group participates in the Official Doctorate Programmes in "Advanced Biotechnology" (http://doctoradociencias.udc.es/phd-in-advanced-biotechnology/ and "Cellular and Molecular Biology" (http://doctoradociencias.udc.es/phd-in-cellular-and-molecular-biology/ ).
Group members
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Other information of interest
News
Articles
Long Non-Coding RNA–Derived Peptides as a Novel Source of Tumor Neoantigens: Expanding the Immunopeptidome Beyond Canonical Coding Regions
- Authors: Ismael López-Calvo, Inés Bao-Camacho,Samuel Martín-Revuelta,Cora Rey-Souto, Anahir Franco-Gacio, José Manuel Pérez-Martínez, Iván Sandino-Somoza, Álvaro Mourenza, Esther Rodríguez-Belmonte, Mónica Lamas-Maceiras, Esperanza Cerdán,Aida Barreiro-Alonso, Ángel Vizoso-Vázquez
- Details: Biology 2026, 15(7), 538
- URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/15/7/538
- Quartile: Q1 (Scopus)
- CiteScore: 7.4
- Impact factor: 3.5
- DOI: 10.3390/biology15070538
Intrinsically disordered regions in the yeast transcriptional regulator Ixr1 support prion-like behavior
- Authors: Aida Barreiro-Alonso, Cora Rey-Souto, Mónica Lamas-Maceiras, José Manuel Pérez-Martínez, Anahir Franco-Gacio, Esther Rodríguez-Belmonte, M. Esperanza Cerdán & Ángel Vizoso-Vázquez
- Details: Scientific Reports, 2026, 16
- URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-33972-x
- Quartile: D1 (Wos/Scopus)
- CiteScore: 8.5
- Impact factor: 4.8
- DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-33972-x
Gut microbiome–driven colorectal cancer via immune, metabolic, neural, and endocrine axes reprogramming
- Authors: Jhommara Bautista, Mónica Lamas-Maceiras, Camila Hidalgo-Tinoco, Antonio Guerra-Guerrero, Anapaula Betancourt-Velarde & Andrés López-Cortés
- Details: NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes
- URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41522-025-00883-8
- Quartile: Q1
- CiteScore: 8
- Impact factor: 5
- DOI: 10.1038/s41522-025-00883-8
Videos
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