A5047677063- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Cellular transport and secretion
- Drug Transport and Resistance Mechanisms
- Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies
- Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Advanced Polymer Synthesis and Characterization
- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Protein Interaction Studies and Fluorescence Analysis
- Sphingolipid Metabolism and Signaling
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
- Surfactants and Colloidal Systems
- Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Analytical Chemistry and Sensors
- Cystic Fibrosis Research Advances
- Fungal and yeast genetics research
- Peptidase Inhibition and Analysis
- Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Photodynamic Therapy Research Studies
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Nanopore and Nanochannel Transport Studies
- Neonatal Health and Biochemistry
Instituto Superior Técnico
2006-2024
University of Lisbon
2015-2024
Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering
2018-2024
Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra
2023
Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa
2003-2021
Rede de Química e Tecnologia
2017-2018
Universidade Nova de Lisboa
2005-2018
Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias
2013-2018
University of Algarve
2017
Center for NanoScience
2016
Hybrids, i.e., intimately mixed polymer/phospholipid vesicles, can potentially marry in a single membrane the best characteristics of two separate components. The ability amphiphilic copolymers and phospholipids to self-assemble into hybrid membranes has been studied until now on submicrometer scale using optical microscopy giant unilamellar vesicles (GHUVs), but limited information is available large (LHUVs). In this work, based poly(dimethylsiloxane) poly(ethylene oxide) with different...
Hybrid polymer/lipid large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) were studied by small angle neutron scattering (SANS), time-resolved Förster resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET), and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). For the first time in hybrid vesicles, evidence for phase separation at nanoscale was obtained, leading to formation of stable nanodomains enriched either lipid or polymer. This stability allowed using vesicle-forming copolymer with a membrane thickness close bilayer...
Phase separation in giant polymer/lipid hybrid unilamellar vesicles (GHUVs) has been described over the last few years. However there is still a lack of understanding on physical and molecular factors governing phase such systems. Among these parameters it suggested that analogy to multicomponent lipid hydrophobic mismatches as well fluidity play role. In this work, we aim map global picture domain formation membrane GHUVs by using various copolymers based poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)...
Saccharomyces cerevisiae has the ability to become less sensitive a broad range of chemically and functionally unrelated cytotoxic compounds. Among multistress resistance mechanisms is one mediated by plasma membrane efflux pump proteins belonging ABC superfamily, questionably proposed enhance kinetics extrusion all these This study provides new insights into biological role impact in yeast response acetic acid stress determinant Pdr18 mediate ergosterol incorporation membrane. The described...
Abstract This work describes a coordinate and comprehensive view on the time course of alterations occurring at level cell wall during adaptation yeast population to sudden exposure sub-lethal stress induced by acetic acid. Acetic acid is major inhibitory compound in industrial bioprocesses widely used preservative foods beverages. Results indicate that resistance lyticase activity increases acid-induced growth latency, corresponding this stress. response correlates with: (i) increased...
Phosphoinositides are a family of membrane phospholipids that play crucial roles in regulatory events. As such, these lipids often key part molecular dynamics simulation studies biological membranes, particular those employing coarse-grain models because the potential long times and sizes involved processes. Version 3 widely used Martini force field has been recently published, greatly refining many aspects biomolecular interactions. In order to properly use it for lipid simulations with...
A robust and efficient cellular response to lysosomal membrane damage prevents leakage from the lysosome lumen into cytoplasm. This is understood happen through either repair or lysophagy. Here we report exocytosis as a third mechanism damage, which further potentiated when degradation mechanisms are impaired. We show that Connexin43 (Cx43), protein canonically associated with gap junctions, recruited plasma damaged lysosomes, promoting their secretion accelerating cell recovery. The effects...
Summary Pathological mutations in liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) scaffold proteins have been linked to biomolecular condensate dysfunction neurodegenerative diseases, while the possible impact of client protein remains unclear. In spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), disease-associated E134K mutation Tudor domain (TD) survival motor neuron (SMN) disrupts its interaction with GAR1, an RGG-rich within H/ACA small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein complex. The consequences this impaired not...
Cytotoxic bile acids, such as deoxycholic acid (DCA), are responsible for hepatocyte cell death during intrahepatic cholestasis. The mechanisms this effect unclear, and recent studies conflict, pointing to either a modulation of plasma membrane structure or mitochondrial-mediated toxicity through perturbation mitochondrial outer (MOM) properties. We conducted comprehensive comparative study the impact cytotoxic cytoprotective acids on different cellular compartments. show that DCA increases...
Acetic acid is a major inhibitory compound in several industrial bioprocesses, particular lignocellulosic yeast biorefineries. Cell envelope remodeling, involving cell wall and plasma membrane composition, structure function, among the mechanisms behind adaptation tolerance to stress. Pdr18 ABC transporter of pleiotropic drug resistance family reported determinant acetic mediating ergosterol transport. This study provides evidence for impact expression during The time-course...
In this work, a squaraine dye CS5 was characterized and evaluated for its potential in photodynamic therapy. The studies were performed ethanol also powdered biopolymer, case chitosan. Ground state absorption, absolute fluorescence quantum yields, lifetimes, transient absorption determined order to evaluate the advantage of adsorbing onto biopolymer. Several concentrations dye, adsorbed chitosan, prepared concentration effect on photophysical parameters under study. A remarkable increase...
In lung cancer, the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is one of main targets for clinical management this disease. The effectiveness therapies toward receptor has already been linked to expression integrin subunit β1 in NSCLC A549 cells. work we demonstrate that azurin, an anticancer therapeutic protein originated from bacterial cells, controls levels and its appropriate membrane localization, impairing intracellular signaling cascades downstream these receptors invasiveness We show...
To investigate the mechanism of action at molecular level pepR, a multifunctional peptide derived from Dengue virus capsid protein, against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.Biofilm mass, metabolic activity and viability were quantified using conventional microbiology techniques, while fluorescence imaging methods, including real-time calcein release assay, employed to kinetics pepR different biofilm depths.Using flow cytometry-based assays, we showed that is able prevent staphylococcal...
We synthesized a new alkoxysilane-functionalized perylenediimide (PDI) dye with fluorescence emission in the near infrared (NIR). Incorporation of into silica nanoparticles and subsequent internalization living cells shows promising results for application confocal laser scanning microscopy, allowing simultaneous imaging other commonly used dyes or fluorescent proteins.