Marta Rubio-Texeira Ph.D. – Belgium
Lab. Molecular Cell Biology
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and Department of Molecular Microbiology,
VIB Kasteelpark Arenberg 31,
bus 2438 B-3001
Leuven-Heverlee Flanders, Belgium
Telephones:
+32 – 16 – 32 0368 (Work)
+32 – 16 – 32 1979 (Work fax)
e-mail: Marta.Rubio@mmbio.vib-kuleuven.be
Education:
PhD in Biology – National Research Council of Spain (CSIC) and University of Valencia (Spain). Grade granted Cum Laude (highest).
Thesis title: Biotechnologic uses of whey through the genetic modification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (“Modificación genética de Saccharomyces cerevisiae para el aprovechamiento biotecnológico del lactosuero”), Thesis Advisor Dr. Julio Polaina Molina (jpolaina@iata.csic.es).
Research Specialty, Unesco codes: 241501, 230204, 230221
Ms in Biology – Graduation program 030A: “Molecular Biology”, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Biological Sciences, University of Valencia (Spain).
Bs, Biology & Biochemistry – University of Valencia (Spain). June 1993 (qualification/grade: “sobresaliente”, equivalent to 2.9 with honors (British system) or A (American system)
Work experience:
August 2007 – present: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (K.U.Leuven) & Vlaams instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), Laboratorium voor Moleculaire Celbiologie. Leuven, Belgium.
Post-doctoral research Associate.
Project: Nutrient sensing and signaling by the yeast Gap1 amino acid transceptor.
Principal investigator: Prof. Johan Thevelein
May 2005 – July 2007: Whitehead Institute (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA. Staff scientist.
Project: Genomic screens in yeast to identify modulators of toxicity in the expression of prions and human proteins involved in neurodegenerative disease.
Principal investigator: Prof. Susan L. Lindquist
Feb 2001 – April 2005: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA. Biology Department. Post-doctoral research associate.
Project: Analysis and characterization of genes involved in the secretory pathway of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Principal investigator Prof. Christopher Kaiser.
Nov. 2000- Feb 2001: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA. Biology Department. Post-doctoral research Associate.
Project: Analysis of cell polarity in yeast.
Principal investigator Dr. Sylvia Sanders.
Oct. 1998- Oct 2000: Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA Kimmel Cancer Institute. Post-doctoral research Associate.
Project: Functional and structural analysis of the Histidine Triad superfamily of nucleotide-binding proteins, Fhit and Hint.
Principal investigator: Prof. Charles Brenner.
Jan. 1994- Sep 1998: Institute of Biochemistry and Food Technology (I.A.T.A.) National Research Council (CSIC), Valencia (Spain) PhD student.
Thesis project: Enzymatic hydrolysis of lactose and cellobiose: functional and structural analyses of genes and enzymes. Genetic modification of Saccharomyces for the fermentation of these sugars.
Principal investigator: Dr. Julio Polaina Molina.
Scientific Skills
? Use of E. coli for recombinant DNA: small and large- scale preparation of plasmid /genomic DNA; qualitative/quantitative analysis and isolation of restriction fragments in agarose gels; enzymatic treatments for DNA manipulations (restriction endonucleases, polymerases, phosphatases, kinases, ligases, ribonucleases, etc); clonation / subclonation.
? Nucleic acids hibridization (Southern, dot blot analysis): extensive knowledge in use of both radioactive ( P32) and DIG-labeled probes.
? PCR techniques: enzymatic amplification of DNA with cloning purposes, from plasmidic and genomic DNA; molecular cloning methods for PCR products (generation of T-A overhangs; generation of cohesive ends by introduction of flanking restriction sites, etc.). Design of DNA fragments for gene disruptions and PCR genotypic analysis of knock- out mutations. RT-PCR, knowledge of the basic methods.
? Protein biochemistry and analytical biochemistry: extensive experience in protein extraction, inmunoprecipitations, GST pull downs, SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. Experience in detection of ubiquitin-protein conjugates. S35 labeling and pulse-chase analysis. Coomassie, silver staining. Bradford and other quantitative methods. Differential centrifugation and membrane fractionation (gradients). Biochemical assays for enzymatic activity analyses of some specific proteins: beta-galactosidase, proteases, polyphosphate hydrolases; membrane permeases transport measurements using C14- radiolabeled molecules, using scintillation counter. Bioluminescence assay kits to determine amounts of nucleosides/ nucleotides in yeast cell extracts. Good experience using Wallac-type fluorimeter machines to perform microarray enzymatic assays in multi-welled plates.
? Genetic and molecular methods involving the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Yeast media, cloning vectors, growth and manipulation methods: determination cell density, phenotype by replica plating, diploid construction, sporulation and tetrads dissection. Genetic transformation. Manipulation of yeast cloned DNA: integrative transformation, gene replacement, integrative disruption, plasmid shuffling for screening of conditional lethal mutation, cloning of yeast genes by complementation. Quantitative mating analyses and random spore analyses; halo tests with a-pheromone. Screening of phenotypes for mutants: auxotrophies, carbon and nitrogen utilization defects, slow growth, pseudohyphae formation, respiratory defects (i.e. petites); sensitivity to temperature, drugs, salts, heavy metals; stress response defects: sensitivity to heat-shock, starvation, osmotic changes, etc.
? Microscopy: subcellular localization of proteins, by immunofluorescence and fluorescent protein labeling. Extensive knowledge of fluorescent confocal microscopy methodologies.
? Computers: Complete working knowledge of both PC and MAC’s operating systems. Sequence Analysis & Genome Browsers.
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