Our primary interest is the investigation of the molecular basis of germ cell (male and female gametes) formation and function in fish and other marine organisms towards the development of biotechnological inventions for application in mariculture as well as the conservation of endangered species. The main lines of current research are:
Comparative evolutionary physiology of water channels (aquaporins)
We study the structure, evolution and molecular function of aquaporins to elucidate their biological functions in male and female gametes and osmoregulatory organs, as well as their molecular and functional interactions with other membrane and regulatory proteins (e.g. ion channels and intracellular protein trafficking factors).Molecular basis of sperm differentiation and maturation (spermiogenesis)
Our objective is to uncover key endocrine, molecular and cell regulatory mechanisms of spermiogenesis that are vital for fish fertility. Our ultimate goal is the identification of novel biomarkers of sperm quality, as well as the development of biotechnologies to ameliorate reproductive obstacles of cultured marine fishes.Cryopreservation of highly yolked (megalecithal) fish oocytes and embryos
Species producing megalecithal gametes and embryos (fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds) represent ~99% of the world’s vulnerable or endangered vertebrates. However, their long-term conservation through cryopreservation has yet to be achieved. We are developing biotechnological innovations to facilitate freeze-tolerance in fish oocytes and embryos to enhance their cryosurvival.
In our studies, we employ a broad repertoire of multidisciplinary approaches including structure-function assays combined with cell and molecular biology methods, high-throughput genomics and transcriptomics, proteomics, and phylogenomics.
