Cell Biology of Neurodegeneration
The aim of this program is to study cellular processes involved in neurodegeneration. The research lines focus on the study of inter-organelle communications and secretory pathways. Organelles engage in extensive communication with each other, either directly through membrane contacts or indirectly by regulating signalling pathways. In this area of research, mitochondrial communication with other organelles is studied, as well as how it regulates neuronal functions and governs cell fate decisions. We are interested in the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying biogenesis, trafficking, and exocytosis of secretory organelles and excitation-secretion coupling in neural and endocrine cells. Multiple in-vitro, ex-vivo, and in vivo approaches are used to study alterations of secretory processes in neurons and glial cells in Alzheimer’s disease. The results of our research are expected to contribute to the identification of new biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases.
Principal Investigators
Fernando Aguado
Full Professor
Francesc X. Soriano
Associate Professor
Technologies & Methods
- Primary cultures (neurons and astrocytes)
- Live cell imaging
- Bioenergetic assays
- AAV generation
- Flow cytometry
- Split luciferase complementation assay
- General techniques of biochemistry and molecular biology (western blot, qPCR, cloning…)
- General histological methods, immunolabeling and in situ hybridisation
- Brain and CSF analysis in rodents and humans
- Biochemical and imaging secretion assays
- Brain stereotaxic surgery
- Optogenetic methods
Research Team
Irene Sánchez
Early Stage Researcher
Raquel Larramona Arcas
Postdoctoral Researcher
Paula Tena Morraja
Early Stage Researcher
Guillem Riqué Pujol
Early Stage Researcher
Sheila Vaquero Vázquez
Early Stage Researcher
Active Projects
Modulació de la senyalització retrògrada mitocondrial com a tractament de la síndrome de Leigh
Fundació La Marató de TV3. 415/C/2020. Francesc X. Soriano.
Estudio del papel de Mfn2 en la regulación de programas transcriptionales inducidos por la actividad sináptica
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. PID2020-119322GB-I00. Francesc X. Soriano.
Estudio del proteoma de líquido cefalorraquídeo en ratas normales y transgénicas. Búsqueda de biomarcadores de la enfermedad de Alzheimer
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN). PID2022-142187OB-I00. Fernando Aguado.
Vesículas de centro denso en neuronas y astrocitos: mecanismos de exocitosis y su potencial uso como biomarcadores de neurodegeneración
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. PID2019-107738RB-I00. Fernando Aguado.
Selected publications
Ramiro-Pareta, M., Müller-Sánchez, C., Portella-Fortuny, R., Soler-Botija, C., Torres-Cano, A., Esteve-Codina, A., Bayés-Genís, A., Reina, M., Soriano, F. X., Montanez, E., & Martínez-Estrada, O. M. (2023). Endothelial deletion of Wt1 disrupts coronary angiogenesis and myocardium development. Development, 150(6). https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.201147
Tena-Morraja, P., Riqué-Pujol, G., Müller-Sánchez, C., Reina, M., Martínez-Estrada, O. M., & Soriano, F. X. (2023). Synaptic Activity Regulates Mitochondrial Iron Metabolism to Enhance Neuronal Bioenergetics. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(2), 922. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24020922