cgi-bin/community/feature/200410.pl

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  29 $page->header('The Botella Lab', undef, $stylesheet);
  30 print<<END_HEREDOC;
  31
  32   <center>
  33     <h1>The Botella Lab</h1>
  34   </center>
  35
  36   <p class="footnote"><img src="/static_content/community/feature/200410.jpg" border="0" width="579"
  37   height="384" alt="The Botella Lab" /><br />
  38   From left to right: Upper row: David Pos&eacute;, Maria
  39   Jos&eacute;, Itziar Castanedo, Karen Merchante, Ver&oacute;nica
  40   Gonz&acute;lez, Sonia Osorio Lower row: Victoriano Valpuesta,
  41   Eduardo Gross, Miguel A. Botella, Eduardo Cruz, Irene Araguez,
  42   Abel Rosado, Aureliano Bombarely</p>
  43
  44   <h2>Research Interests</h2>
  45
  46   <p>Only a reduced number of genes have been identified as
  47   critical for plant salt and drought tolerance. Using a genetic
  48   approach we have identified several tomato mutants (tss)
  49   hypersensitive to NaCl as well as 1 tomato (tos1) mutant
  50   specifically hypersensitive to drought stress. In our laboratory
  51   we use a combination of physiology, electrophysiology and
  52   molecular techniques in the characterization of these tomato
  53   mutants in order to define genes and processes important for salt
  54   and drought tolerance in plants. We are in the process of cloning
  55   some of these genes.</p>
  56
  57   <p>We are also using Arabidopsis in the identification of
  58   additional genes that are essential for salt and drought stress.
  59   In collaboration with Dr. Hasegawa we have identified a number of
  60   T-DNA mutants that are hypersensitive to salt and osmotic stress.
  61   We have identified the genes affected and we are working in the
  62   characterization of these mutants. We work together with Dr.
  63   Victoriano Valpuesta and his group and we are also interested in
  64   fruit ripening in tomato and strawberry using genomic approaches.
  65   We have identified an alternative pathway for vitamin C
  66   biosynthesis in strawberry fruits. In this pathway, the
  67   biosynthesis of vitamin C in ripe strawberry fruits, which are
  68   rich in this compound, occurs through D-galacturonic acid, the
  69   main constituent of cell-wall pectins. We have cloned a key gene
  70   of this pathway, GalUR, encoding a protein with NADPH-dependent
  71   D-galacturonate reductase activity that is specifically expressed
  72   in ripe strawberry fruits. We are interested in determine how
  73   universal is this pathway in other species including tomato.</p>
  74
  75   <p>Dr. Botella is Professor of the University of M&aacute;laga
  76   (Spain) since 1999 and one of the directors of the Laboratorio de
  77   Biotecnolog&iacute;a de Plantas (Plant Biotechnology Laboratory)
  78   together with <a href="mailto:Valpuesta\@uma.es">Dr. Valpuesta</a>. He
  79   obtained his Ph.D. at the University of M&aacute;laga in 1994
  80   spending some periods during his doctorate at Purdue University.
  81   After his Thesis, Dr. Botella worked as a posdoct in Purdue
  82   University under the supervision of Dr. Paul M. Hasegawa with the
  83   main focus on cysteine proteinase inhibitors. Later he spent 4
  84   years in the Sainsbury Laboratory (John Innes Centre) under the
  85   supervision of Dr. Jonathan D.G. Jones working on Arabidopsis
  86   Resistant Genes.</p>
  87
  88   <h2>Contact Information</h2>
  89
  90   <p>University of Malaga<br />
  91   Dep. Biolog&iacute;a Molecular y Bioqu&iacute;mica<br />
  92   Facultad de Ciencias<br />
  93   Campus de Teatinos s/n<br />
  94   29071 M&aacute;laga<br />
  95   Spain</p>
  96
  97   <h2>Selected Publications</h2>
  98
  99   <p class="bibliography">Borsani O, Valpuesta V, Botella MA (2001)
 100   Evidence for a role of salicylic acid in the oxidative damage
 101   generated by NaCl and osmotic stress in Arabidopsis seedlings.
 102   Plant Physiol 126: 1024-1030</p>
 103
 104   <p class="bibliography">Borsani O, Cuartero J, Fernandez JA,
 105   Valpuesta V, Botella MA (2001) Identification of two loci in
 106   tomato reveals distinct mechanisms for salt tolerance. Plant Cell
 107   13: 873-887</p>
 108
 109   <p class="bibliography">Borsani O, Cuartero J, Valpuesta V,
 110   Botella MA (2002) Tomato tos1 mutation identifies a gene
 111   essential for osmotic tolerance and abscisic acid sensitivity.
 112   Plant Journal 32: 905-914</p>
 113
 114   <p class="bibliography">Gonzalez-Lamothe R, Segura R, Trapero A,
 115   Baldoni L, Botella MA, Valpuesta V (2002) Phylogeny of the fungus
 116   Spilocaea oleagina, the causal agent of peacock leaf spot in
 117   olive. FEMS Microbiology Lett 210: 149-155</p>
 118
 119   <p class="bibliography">Borsani, O., Valpuesta, V., and Botella,
 120   M.A. Developing salt tolerance plants in a new century: a
 121   molecular biology approach (Review). Plant Cell Tissue and Organ
 122   Culture 73: 101-115</p>
 123
 124   <p class="bibliography">Agius F, Gonzalez-Lamothe R, Caballero
 125   JL, Munoz-Blanco J, Botella MA, Valpuesta V (2003) Engineering
 126   increased vitamin C levels in plants by overexpression of a
 127   D-galacturonic acid reductase. Nature Biotechnology 21:
 128   177-181</p>
 129
 130   <p class="bibliography">Rubio L, Rosado A, Linares-Rueda A,
 131   Borsani O, Garc&iacute;a-S&aacute;nchez MJ, Valpuesta V,
 132   Fern\341ndez JA, Botella MA. (2004) Regulation of K+ Transport in
 133   Tomato Roots by the TSS1 Locus. Implications in Salt Tolerance.
 134   Plant Physiology 134: 452-459</p>
 135
 136   <p class="bibliography">Castillejo C, Delafuente JI, Iannetta P,
 137   Botella MA and Victoriano Valpuesta. (2004). Pectin esterase gene
 138   family in strawberry fruit. Study of FaPE1, a ripening-specific
 139   isoform. Journal Experimental Botany. 55: 909-918.</p>
 140
 141   <p class="bibliography">Valpuesta V, Botella MA. (2004)
 142   Biosynthesis of L-ascorbic acid in plants: New pathways for an
 143   old antioxidant. Trends in Plant Science. In press.</p>
 144
 145   <p class="bibliography">Agius F, Amaya I, Botella MA, Valpuesta
 146   V. (2004) Functional analysis of homologous and heterologous
 147   promoters in strawberry fruits using transient expression.
 148   Journal Experimental Botany. In press.</p>
 149 END_HEREDOC
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