Stress em Levedura

Interesse da Investigação

Adaptation and survival to environmental challenges (stresses) are fundamental processes in all organisms. Microorganisms, in general, are widely exposed to oxidative environments as those imposed by chemical/physical stress agents and, in particular, pathogens to oxidative burst during phagocytosis. In fact, exposure to many fungicides and anti-cancer drugs generates oxidative stress. Similarly, exposure to temperatures below the optimal value has effects on the intracellular oxidative environment. Adaptation and survival depends on the accuracy and specificity of intracellular signal/stimuli propagation and efficient counter-acting/compensatory response(s). Despite the adjustments of gene expression at different levels, remodeling of transcription by RNA polymerase II (pol II) is a crucial process under stress stimuli. Our group research concerns the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of oxidative stress-signalling pathway(s), that culminate in discrete transcriptional events, involving two non-classical players as signaling molecules in oxidative stress pathway - TFIIB and folding machinery components.

Our research group location is at IGC - Marco Polo (CO wing)

If you are interested in working in our group, please send by email your CV and motivation letter to Lisete Fernandes.

Publicações

Coelho et al. (2010). Differential contribution of Gim/Prefoldin subunits to specific stress gene expression. (submitted)

Perfeito L, Fernandes L, Mota C and Gordo I. (2007). Adaptive mutations in bacteria: high rate and small effects Science 317 :813-815

Faria, J.P., Fernandes, L. (2006). Protection against oxidative stress through SUA7/TFIIB regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Free Radic. Biol. Med. (in press)

Dionisio, F., Conceição, I.C., Marques A.C.R., Fernandes, L. and Gordo, I. (2005). The evolution of a conjugative plasmid and its ability to increase bacterial fitness Biol. Lett. 1 :250-252

Cyrne, L., Martins, L., Fernandes, L., Marinho, H.S. (2003). Regulation of antioxidant enzymes gene expression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae during stationary phase Free Radic. Biol. Med. 34 :385-393

Fernandes, L., Rodrigues-Pousada, C., Struhl, K. (1997). Yap, a novel family of eight bZIP proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with distinct biological functions Mol. Cell. Biol. 17 :6982-6993

Bossier, P., Fernandes, L., Vilela, C., Rodrigues-Pousada, C. (1994). The yeast YKL714 gene situated on the left arm of chromosome XI codes for an homolog of the human ALD protein Yeast 10 :681-686

Dujon, B. (Ö), Fernandes, L. (Ö), Becker, I. (1994). The complete DNA sequence of chromosome XI of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Nature 369 :371-378

Bossier, P., Fernandes, L., Rocha, D., Rodrigues-Pousada, C. (1993). Overexpression of YAP2, coding for a new yAP protein, and YAP1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae alleviates growth inhibition caused by 1,10-phenantroline J. Biol. Chem 268 :23640-23645

Bossier, P., Fernandes, L., Rodrigues-Pousada, C. (1992). Yeast genes overcoming growth arrest induced by 1,10-phenantroline Cell Biology 69 :7-11