PhD in Biochemistry from the Univ. of Barcelona, ​​I did my postdoc at the U. Massachusetts, cloning and characterizing for the first time the two isoforms of human protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Once back at UAB in 1988, as an established researcher, I explored the protein phosphatases in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, my main working model since then, discovering two new phosphatases: Ppz1 and Ppg1 (2 JBCs). As a pioneering researcher in automated DNA sequencing, during the 1990s we cloned and characterized multiple Ser/Thr phosphatases cDNAs and genes (PPX, PP2A), mainly in plants. I also participated in the sequencing of the yeast genome (chromosome XV, Nature). Also, during this period, we investigated the yeast Ppz1 phosphatase, discovering that it was a key element in the regulation of salt tolerance and that it was negatively regulated by Hal3. In 2004, we discovered a second negative regulator of Ppz1, Vhs3 (4 JBC, 1 PNAS, 1 MCB). A key contribution was the publication in 2009 that Hal3 and Vhs3 are moonlighting proteins, since in addition to being Ppz1 regulators, they act as components of a PPC decarboxylase that is key in CoA biosynthesis (Nat. Chem Biol). We then further investigated the interaction between S. cerevisiae Ppz1 and Hal3 and characterized Ppz1 (and Hal3) in animal and plant pathogenic fungi (C. albicans, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, and Ustilago), as well as the extraordinary structure of Hal3 in S. pombe (1 JBC, 1 BJ, 5 Mol Microbiol, 3 Sci Reports, 1 PLOS Pathogens, among others).

Relevant for this proposal, around year 2000 we became interested in signaling in yeast in response to stress by Na⁺ and by alkalinization of the medium. Between late 1990’-2003, in addition to delimiting the transcriptional response mediated by Hog1 in response to salt stress (pioneering use of DNA microarrays in Spain), we discovered that alkaline stress promotes the entry of calcium and the activation of the calcineurin pathway (2 JBC, 1 Mol. Microbiol). Later, we characterized the role of the cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway, copper and iron homeostasis, and the Snf1 and PKA kinase pathways in the adaptive response to alkaline pH (2 JBC, 2 Biochem J). Also, from the middle of 2000 and until recently we carried out the characterization of another family of phosphatases, the PP2Cs. We studied their role in salt tolerance and analyzed the transcriptomic and functional profile of several isoforms (Ptc1-5), establishing their cellular targets. (2 Mol Microbiol, 1 JBC, 1 MCB, 1 Genetics). In recent years, as coordinator of an international consortium (TRANSLUCENT), we have applied systems biology approaches to the study of monovalent cation homeostasis, (11 papers, including 1 MCB, 2 Mol Microbiol, 1 PLOS Comp Biol). Within the context of the current grant PID2020-113319RB-I00 we have identified novel regulatory modules for gene induction under alkaline pH and we have implemented methods for random generation of hybrid synthetic vectors regulated by alkalinization in S. cerevisiae (1 IJMS, 1 paper in preparation). We have also elucidated the transcriptomic response to alkalinization in K. phaffii (P. pastoris) and, based in this knowledge, used selected promoters to create strains able to effectively produce at the laboratory level secreted phytase, an enzyme of high industrial relevance (1 Microb Cell Fact published, a 2^nd one under revision). In the last five years, we have initiated collaborations with several companies (Pintaluba SA, Espuña R&D, Biocon SL.) to provide them with support in heterologous protein expression with industrial purposes.

In summary, this is a scientific trajectory strongly linked to the study of cell signaling processes controlled by phospho-dephosphorylation, within the context of gene expression in response to cationic and pH stress, with demonstrated ability to transfer fundamental knowledge for the productive sphere. I have supervised the PhD Thesis of 25 students, the vast majority working in the academy, research centers or biotech companies.  I have acted uninterruptedly since 1989 as PI of 24 major research grants (Plan Nacional, ERA-NETs, etc.).