Comparative Molecular Physiology

Research interests

Our primary interest focuses on the molecular basis of gamete (germ cell) formation and function towards the development of biotechnological inventions for animal production and conservation biology. Present research lines include: (1) Comparative studies on the evolution, structure and function of molecular water channels (aquaporins); (2) Molecular physiology of aquaporins and ion channels in male and female gametes; (3) Development of new biotechnological methods based on aquaporins for cell preservation; and (4) Molecular endocrinology of spermiogenesis.

Research Keywords: Spermatogenesis, oogenesis, endocrinology, aquaporin, physiology, evolution, cell preservation

Head of the Group:

Cerdà Luque, Joan

Members:

Becari predoctoral: Castro Arnau, Júlia
Becari predoctoral: Ferre García, Alba
Estudiant col·laborador: Moreno Magallon, Judith
Investigador : Chauvigne , Francois
Investigador : Finn , Roderick Nigel
PostDoc: Catalán García, Marc

Selected publications

Eskova A., Chauvigné F., Maischein H.-M., Ammelburg M., Cerdà J., Nüsslein-Volhard C., Irion U. (2017) Gain-of-function mutations in Aqp3a influence zebrafish pigment pattern formation through the tissue environment. Development 144:2059-2069

Finn R.N., Chauvigné F., Stavang J.A., Bellés X., Cerdà J. (2015) Insect glycerol transporters evolved by functional co-option and gene replacement. Nature Communications 6:7814.

Chauvigné F., Boj M., Finn R.N., Cerdà J. (2015) Mitochondrial aquaporin-8-mediated hydrogen peroxide transport is essential for teleost spermatozoon motility. Scientific Reports 5:7789.

Kanagaraj P., Gautier-Stein A., Riedel D., Schomburg C., Cerdà J., Vollack N., Dosch R. (2014) Souffle/Spastizin controls secretory vesicle maturation during zebrafish oogenesis. PLoS Genetics 10(6):e1004449.

Chauvigné F., Zapater C., Gasol J.M., Cerdà J. (2014) Germ line activation of the luteinizing hormone receptor directly drives spermiogenesis in a non-mammalian vertebrate. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 111:1427-1432

Zapater C., Chauvigné F., Norberg B., Finn R.N., Cerdà J. (2011) Dual neofunctionalization of a rapidly evolving aquaporin-1 paralog resulted in constrained and relaxed traits controlling channel function during meiosis resumption in teleosts. Molecular Biology and Evolution 28:3151-3169.