Overview
The MitoXT group focuses on the role of mitochondria in lifestyles and aging-related diseases. Our objective is to understand the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial failure, to develop effective therapies. Among different topics, we study the a) failure of energy metabolism on drug and stress-induced cardiovascular injury, b) role of bioenergetic failure in the initiation and progression of cardiovascular, hepatic, and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as on osteoporosis, c) modulation of energy metabolism function and cross-tolerance against cardiac injury afforded by exercise and diet, d) fetal programming of cardiac mitochondrial fitness and relevance for adulthood pathologies, e) mitochondrial alterations during stem cell differentiation and carcinogenesis, and f) use of mitochondria-directed natural and synthetic compounds as anticancer and antioxidant agents. The group is located at the UC-Biotech building, Biocant Park, Cantanhede. In its laboratory space, the group has available several pieces of hardware, including a thermocycler and qRT-PCR system, fluorescent/UV-visible/luminescence multi-plate readers, Clark-type oxygen electrodes and oxygraphs, Western Blotting apparatus and imaging system, a multi-cuvette spectrophotometer, an epifluorescent microscope, a gTOXX Analyzer and a MIRA device, a Seahorse XFe96 Extracellular Flux Analyzer, as well as different centrifuges. Besides, the group has access to CNC/Biotech UC core equipment and facilities, including cell culture rooms, animal care facilities, epifluorescence, confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry, among others. The group has a robust internationalization, confirmed by the number of collaborations, secondments of foreign students, and activity of their Ph.D. members in international committees and Societies, and invited talks in several international events.
