Our research revolves around two fundamental themes. One of them focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms and identifying the genes involved in establishing adaptive responses in plants to changes in their environment. A key aspect of this research line is elucidating the mechanisms of plant resistance and susceptibility to pathogenic attacks. To this end, we use the model system Arabidopsis as our experimental platform, with the aim of transferring and applying the scientific knowledge obtained to other plant species of greater agronomic and industrial importance. To support these studies, we have developed a chemical genetics platform, which we aim to use to identify agonist and antagonist molecules involved in processes related to plant adaptive responses.

The other research theme to which we are also dedicating resources and efforts involves high-impact genomic and genetic approaches in reference energy crops. Our goal is to maximize the production of high value-added molecules for the renewable energy sector, particularly in the field of bioenergy, in order to contribute to the development of second- and third-generation biofuels derived from plant biomass. In particular, we are pursuing an accelerated genetic improvement approach for the crop Euphorbia lathyris L., as well as a genetic and molecular strategy to better understand the molecular and cellular bases of the differentiation of laticifer cells, which serve as energy reservoirs in this species and are responsible for carrying its “energy carriers.”

RESEARCH LINES

• Mechanisms of Plant Adaptation to Environmental Changes.
• Biotechnology of Energy Crops.

• Escaray, F.J., Felipo-Benavent, A., Vera, P. (2022)

Linking plant metabolism and immunity through methionine biosyntehesis

Molecular Plant 15 (1): 6-8

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• Castelblanque L., Garcıía-Andrade J., Martínez-Arias C., Rodríguez J.J., Escaray F.J., Aguilar-Fenollosa E., Jaques J.A., and Vera P (2021)

Opposing Roles of Plant Laticifer Cells in the Resistance to Insect Herbivores and Fungal Pathogens

Plant Comm. 2 (3), 100112

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• García-Andrade,J., Gonzalez, B., Gonzalez-Guzman, M., Rodriguez, P.L., and Vera, P. (2020)

The Role of ABA in Plant Immunity is Mediated through the PYR1 Receptor. 

Int. J. Mol. Sci. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21165852

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• GONZÁLEZ, B. and VERA, P (2019)

Folate Metabolism Interferes Plant Immunity through 1C Methionine Synthase-directed Genome-wide DNA Methylation Enhancement

Mol. Plant. doi.org/10.1016/j.molp.2019.04.013

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• Ramírez V, González B, López A, Castelló MJ, Gila MJ, Zheng B, Chen P, Vera P (2018)

A 2´-O-methyltransferase responsible for tRNA Anticodon Modification is Pivotal for Resistance to Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 in Arabidopsis

Mol. Plant Microb. Interact. 10.1094/MPMI-06-18-0148-R

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• Castelblanque Lourdes, Balaguer Begoña, Marti Cristina, Orozco Marianela, Vera Pablo (2018)

LOL2 and LOL5 loci control latex production by laticifer cells in Euphorbia lathyris

New Phytologist. 10.1111/nph.15253

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• Schaller A; Stintzi A; Rivas S; Serrano I; Chichkova NV; Vartapetian AB; Martínez D; Guiamét JJ; Sueldo DJ; van der Hoorn RAL; Ramírez V; Vera P (2017)

From structure to function – a family portrait of plant subtilases

New Phytologist 218: 879–881

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• Castelblanque L, Balaguer B, Martí C, Rodríguez JJ, Orozco M, Vera P. (2017)

Multiple facets of laticifer cells.

Plant Signalling & Behavior. 12(7): e1300743

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• Castelblanque L , Balaguer B , Martí C, Rodríguez JJ , Orozco M, Vera P (2016)

Novel Insights into the Organization of Laticifer Cells: A Cell Comprising a Unified Whole System

Plant Physiology 172: 1032-1044

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• Dobón A, Canet JV, García-Andrade J, Angulo C, Neumetzler L, Persson S, Vera P (2015)

Novel Disease Susceptibility Factors for Fungal Necrotrophic Pathogens in Arabidopsis

PLoS Pathogens 11: e1004800

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• CarrascoJL, CastellóMJ, Naumann K, Lassowskat I, Navarrete-Gómez M, Scheel D, Vera P (2014)

Arabidopsis Protein Phosphatase DBP1 Nucleates a Protein Network with a Role in Regulating Plant Defense

PLoS ONE 9: e90734

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• Franco-Zorrilla JM, López-Vidriero I, Carrasco JL, Godoy M, Vera P, Solano R (2014)

DNA-binding specificities of plant transcription factors and their potential to define target genes

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 111: 2367-2372

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• Ramírez V, López A, Mauch-Mani B, Gil MJ, Vera P (2013)

An Extracellular Subtilase Switch for Immune Priming in Arabidopsis

PLoS Pathogens 9: e1003445

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• García-Andrade J, Ramírez V, López A, Vera P (2013)

Mediated Plastid RNA Editing in Plant Immunity

PLoS Pathogens 9: e1003713

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• Castello MJ, Carrasco JL, Navarrete-Gomez M, Daniels J, Vera P (2011)

A plant small polypeptide is a novel component of DNA-binding protein phosphatase 1 (DBP1)-mediated resistance to Plum pox virus in Arabidopsis

Plant Physiology 157: 2206-2215

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• Garcia-Andrade J, Ramirez V, Flors V, Vera P (2011)

Arabidopsis ocp3 mutant reveals a potentiation mechanism linking ABA and JA for pathogen-induced callose deposition

Plant Journal 67: 783-794

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• Ramirez V, Garcia-Andrade J, Vera P (2011)

Enhanced disease resistance to Botrytis cinerea in myb46 Arabidopsis plants is associated to an early downregulation of CesA genes

Plant Signaling & Behavior 66: 1-3

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• Ramirez V, Agorio A, Coego A, Garcia-Andrade J, Hernandez MJ, Balaguer B, Ouwerkerk P, Zarra I, Vera P (2011)

MYB46 Modulates Disease Susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea in Arabidopsis

Plant Physiology 115: 1920-1935

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• Lopez A, Ramirez V, Garcia-Andrade J, Flors V, Vera P (2011)

The RNA Polymerase V Is Required for Plant Immunity

PLoS Genetics 7: e1002434

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• Castello MJ, Carrasco JL, Vera P (2010)

DNA-binding protein phosphatase AtDBP1 mediates susceptibility to two potyviruses in Arabidopsis

Plant Physiology 153: 1521-1525

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• Ramírez V, Van der Ent S, García-Andrade J, Coego A, Pieterse CMJ, Vera P (2010)

OCP3 is an important modulator of NPR1-mediated jasmonic acid-dependent induced defenses in Arabidopsis

BMC Plant Biology 10: 199

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• Ramirez V, Coego A, Lopez A, Agorio A, Flors V, Vera P (2009)

A disease resistance regulator determines drought tolerance in Arabidopsis

Plant Journal 58: 578-591

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• Flores-Perez U, Perez-Gil J, Rodriguez-Villalon A, Gil M-J, Vera P, Rodriguez-Concepción M (2008)

Contribution of hydroxymethylbutenyl diphosphate synthase to carotenoid buisynthesis in bacteria and plants

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 371: 510-514

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• Trujillo lE, Sotolongo M, Menéndez C, Ochogavía M, Coll Y, Hernández I, Borrás O, Thomma BPHJ, Vera P, Hernández L (2008)

SodERF3, a novel sugarcane Ethylene Responsive Factor (ERF) enhances salt and drought tolerance when over-expressed in tobacco plants

Plant Cell Physiology 2008: 512-525

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• Agorio A, Vera P (2007)

ARGONAUTE 4 is required for resistance to Pseudomonas syringae in Arabidopsis

Plant Cell 19: 3778-3790

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• Carrasco JL, Castelló MJ, Vera P (2006)

14-3-3 mediates transcriptional regulation by modulating nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling of tobacco DNA-binding protein phosphatase-1

Journal of Biological Chemistry 281: 22875-22881

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• X Deng X, Phillips J, Bräutigam A, Engström P, Johannesson H, Ouwerkerk PBF, Ruberti I, Salinas J, Vera P, Iannacone R, Meyer AH, Bartels D (2006)

A homeodomain leucine zipper gene from Craterostigma plantagineum regulates abscisic acid responsive gene expression and physiological responses

Plant Molecular Biology 61: 469-489

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• Kolade OO, Bamford VA, Ancillo G, Jones jD, Vera P, Hemming A (2006)

In vitro characterization of the cysteine-rich capping domains in a plant leucine rich repeat protein

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1764: 1043-1053

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• Carrasco JL, Ancillo G, Castello MJ, Vera P (2005)

A novel DNA-binding motif hallmark of a new family of plant transcription factors

Plant Physiology 137: 602-606

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• Coego A, Ramirez V, Gil MJ, Flors V, Mauch-Mani B, Vera P (2005)

An Arabidopsis homeodomain transcription factor OCP3 mediates resistance to infection by necrotrophic pathogens

Plant Cell 17: 2123-2137

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• Gil MJ, Coego A, Mauch-Mani B, Jorda L, Vera P (2005)

The Arabidopsis csb3 Mutant Reveals a Regulatory Link Between Salicylic Acid-mediated Disease Resistance and the Methyl-Erythritol 4-Phosphate Pathway

Plant Journal 44: 155-166

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• Coego A, Ramirez V, Ellul P, Mayda E, Vera P (2005)

The H2O2-regulated Ep5C Gene Encodes a Peroxidase Required for Bacterial Speck Susceptibility in Tomato

Plant Journal 42: 283-293

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• Carrasco JL, Ancillo G, Vera P (2005)

Transcriptional regulation of gene expression in plants: a box full of surprises

Recent Research Developments in Plant Molecular Biology 2: 63-82

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• Carrasco JL, Ancillo G, Mayda E, Vera P (2003)

A novel transcription factor involved in plant defense endowed with protein phosphatase activity

EMBO Journal 22: 1-9

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• Golldack D, Vera P, Dietz KJ (2003)

Expression of subtilisin-like serine proteases in Arabidopsis thaliana is cell-specific and responds to jasmonic acid and heavy metals with developmental differences

Physiol Plantarum 118: 64-73

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• Mayda E, Mauch-Mani B, Vera P (2000)

The Arabidopsis dth9 mutant is compromised in systemic acquired resistance without affecting SA-dependent responses

Plant Cell 12: 2119-2128

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