Applied Protein Biochemistry
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The Applied Protein Biochemistry group combines protein biochemistry and biophysics with structural biology to investigate protein function in specific pathophysiological contexts and to design and develop proteins with biotechnological potential. |
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João B. Vicente Phone (+351) 214469662 |
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Research Interests
Our main research interests can be divided in three major topics.
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) metabolism in human (patho)physiology
- crosstalk between the gasotransmitters NO, CO and H2S
- structure, function and pharmacological targeting of proteins involved in the metabolism and
- signalling pathways of reactive sulfur species
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cysteine post-translational modifications
Protein (mis)folding in disease
- structure-function relationships in pathogenic variants of enzymes related to inborn errors of metabolism and cancer
- small molecule-based alternative therapies
Development of innovative computationally designed therapeutic proteins
- engineering and production of computationally generated recombinant protein designs
- design and production of immunogenic nanoparticles for drug delivery
- interaction with targets by biophysical methods
Group Members
- João B. Vicente, PhD, Auxiliary Investigator
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Carlota Conceição, PhD, Researcher
- Dalila Fernandes, PhD Student (joint supervision with S. A. Pereira, NOVA Medical School and P. Matias, ITQB NOVA)
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Ana Carolina Buga, PhD Student (joint supervision with D. Lousa, ITQB NOVA and S. Veiga, iMM)
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Susana Parreiras, MSc PhD Student (joint supervision with J. Serpa, IPOLFG|NMS and Diana. Lousa, ITQB NOVA)
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Bárbara Fernandes, PhD Student (joint supervision with R. Oliveira, NMS)
- Érica Santos, MSc Student (joint supervision with R. Oliveira, NMS)
- Madalena Marques, MSc Student (joint supervision with D. Lousa, ITQB NOVA)
- Benedita Pereira, MSc Student (joint supervision with D. Lousa, ITQB NOVA)
- Mariana Parada, MSc, Researcher (joint supervision with I. Abreu, ITQB NOVA)
- Diogo Silva, MSc, Researcher (joint supervision with D. Lousa, ITQB NOVA)
- João M. Costa, MSc Student (joint supervision with Carlos Frazão, ITQB NOVA)
External Team members
- Catarina Madeira, PhD Student (joint supervision with P. Leandro, University of Lisbon School of Pharmacy)
- Tiago Paiva, PhD Student (joint supervision with D. Toubarro and D. Mendonça, Azores University)
Selected Publications
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Pires C, Marques IJ, Valério M, Saramago A, Santo PE, Santos S, Silva M, Moura MM, Matos J, Pereira T, Cabrera R, Lousa D, Leite V, Bandeiras TM, Vicente JB, Cavaco BM (2024) "CHEK2 germline variants identified in familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer lead to impaired protein structure and function." J Biol Chem 300(3): 105767.
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Madeira CA, Anselmo C, Costa JM, Bonito CA, Ferreira RJ, Santos DJVA, Wanders R, Vicente JB*, Ventura FV, Leandro P (2023) Functional and structural impact of 10 ACADM missense mutations on human medium chain acyl-Coa dehydrogenase. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 29: 166766.
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Fernandes DGF, Nunes J, Tomé CS, Zuhra K, Costa JMF, Antunes AMM, Giuffrè A, Vicente JB (2021) “Human Cystathionine γ-Lyase Is Inhibited by s-Nitrosation: A New Crosstalk Mechanism between NO and H2S”. Antioxidants 10(9): 1391.
MX Unit Website
For further information please visit the MX Unit Website.
Laboratório de Bioquímica Aplicada de Proteínas(PT)
O grupo de Bioquímica Aplicada de Proteínas combina bioquímica e biofísica de proteínas com biologia estrutural para investigar a (disf)função de proteínas em contextos patofisiológicos específicos, e para desenhar e desenvolver proteínas com potencial biofarmacêutico/biotecnológico.
As principais áreas de investigação actualmente são:
- Metabolismo humano do sulfureto de hidrogénio e (pato)fisiologia
- Proteínas ‘desordeiras’ no contexto de doença
- Desenvolvimento de proteínas terapêuticas inovadoras desenhadas computacionalmente
