Molecular Reactivity Group (REACMOL)
REACMOL focuses its attention on the chemical and enzymatic reactivity of biomolecules. It is currently working on three lines of research related to alpha-synuclein, a protein associated with Parkison’s disease.
1st. The study by spectroscopic experimental techniques (1H-NMR, UV-visible, FTIR-ATR, Fluorimetry) of non-enzymatic glycation -when an excess of reducing sugars around the molecule modifies some properties such as hydrophobicity or aggregation- which in turn affect molecular structure and function.
2nd. The study by means of computational simulations (molecular dynamics and ab initio methods such as DFT) of the effect of oxidative stress on the native structure of alpha-synuclein. The effect of the presence of metal cations in the alpha-synuclein environment is studied.
3rd. The study using techniques such as fluorescence, calorimetry, 1H-NMR, circular dichroism, DLS (differential light scattering) and AFM (atomic force microscopy) of the effect of post-translational modifications on the structure and interaction of alpha-synuclein with biomembranes.
Research lines:
- Structural and functional characterization of non-enzymatic glycation of biomolecules
- Study of the inhibition mechanism of biomolecules glycation
- Study of enzymatic inhibition mechanisms