Crystallography and Protein Engineering Unit

Inés Muñoz Head of Unit
T +34 917328000 (Ext 3020)
imunoz@cnio.es

Staff Scientists

Jorge Luís Martínez

Post-Doctoral Fellows

Yudhi Nugraha

Technicians

Aida Contreras
Lluvia Rebollo
Pilar Redondo

The Crystallography and Protein Engineering Unit (XTPEUnit) is a core facility created to provide on-demand services at different levels to fulfil the needs of our users. By offering services ranging from protein cloning to solving the 3D structures of proteins, we help our users to further comprehend how target proteins work. With this purpose in mind, we produce proteins for different types of biochemical/biophysical/in vitro/in vivo assays and for monoclonal antibody production, also offering macromolecular structural determination at high-resolution (atomic) by X-ray crystallography, and at low-resolution in-solution by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Protein co-crystallisation, in the presence of inhibitors or small fragments, is routinely done in our laboratory in combination with studies on protein thermal stability (thermofluor assay), to accelerate the guided drug discovery process.

Publications

Compte M, Harwood SL, Erce-Llamazares A, Tapia-Galisteo A, Romero E, Ferrer I, Garrido-Martin EM, Enguita AB, Ochoa MC, Blanco B, Oteo M, Merino N, Nehme-Álvarez D, Hangiu O, Domínguez-Alonso C, Zonca M, Ramírez-Fernández A, Blanco FJ, Morcillo MA, Muñoz IG, Melero I, Rodriguez-Peralto JL, Paz-Ares L, Sanz L, Alvarez-Vallina L. (2021). An Fc-free EGFR-specific 4-1BB-agonistic Trimerbody Displays Broad Antitumor Activity in Humanized Murine Cancer Models without Toxicity. Clin Cancer Res 27, 3167-3177. CNIO Publication.
Martínez-Caballero S, Mahasenan KV, Kim C, Molina R, Feltzer R, Lee M, Bouley R, Hesek D, Fisher JF, Muñoz IG, Chang M, Mobashery S, Hermoso JA. (2021). Integrative structural biology of the penicillin-binding protein-1 from Staphylococcus aureus, an essential component of the divisome machinery. COMPUT STRUCT BIOTEC 19, 5392-5405. CNIO Publication.
Martínez-González S, García AB, Albarrán MI, Cebriá A, Amezquita-Alves A, García-Campos FJ, Martínez-Gago J, Martínez-Torrecuadrada J, Muñoz I, Blanco-Aparicio C, Pastor J (2020). Pyrido[2,3-b][1,5]benzoxazepin-5(6H)-one derivatives as CDK8 inhibitors.. Eur J Med Chem 201, 112443. CNIO Publication.
Frye M, Stritt S, Ortsäter H, Hernandez Vasquez M, Kaakinen M, Vicente A, Wiseman J, Eklund L, Martínez-Torrecuadrada JL, Vestweber D, Mäkinen T (2020). EphrinB2-EphB4 signalling provides Rho-mediated homeostatic control of lymphatic endothelial cell junction integrity. Elife 8, e57732. CNIO Publication. Open Access
de Salas F, Cañadas R, Santiago G, Virseda-Jerez A, Vind J, Gentili P, Martínez AT, Guallar V, Muñoz IG, Camarero S (2019). Structural and biochemical insights into an engineered high-redox potential laccase overproduced in Aspergillus.. Int J Biol Macromol 141, 855-866. CNIO Publication.
Garaulet G, Pérez-Chacon G, Alarcón H, Alfranca A, Mulero F, Martínez-Torrecuadrada J, Zapata JM, Rodríguez A (2019). Intratumoral expression using a NFkB-based promoter enhances IL12 antitumor efficacy. Cancer Gene Ther 26, 216-233. CNIO Publication.
Lennon S, Oweida A, Milner D, Phan AV, Bhatia S, Van Court B, Darragh L, Mueller AC, Raben D, Martínez-Torrecuadrada JL, Pitts TM, Somerset H, Jordan KR, Hansen KC, Williams J, Messersmith WA, Schulick RD, Owens P, Goodman KA, Karam SD (2019). Pancreatic Tumor Microenvironment Modulation by EphB4-ephrinB2 Inhibition and Radiation Combination. Clin Cancer Res 25, 3352-3365. CNIO Publication.
Toledo RA, Garralda E, Mitsi M, Pons T, Monsech J, Vega E, Otero Á, Albarran MI, Baños N, Durán Y, Bonilla V, Sarno F, Camacho-Artacho M, Sanchez-Perez T, Perea S, Álvarez R, De Martino A, Lietha D, Blanco-Aparicio C, Cubillo A, Domínguez O, Martínez-Torrecuadrada JL, Hidalgo M (2018). Exome Sequencing of Plasma DNA Portrays the Mutation Landscape of Colorectal Cancer and Discovers Mutated VEGFR2 Receptors as Modulators of Antiangiogenic Therapies. Clin Cancer Res 24, 3550-3559. CNIO Publication.
Morcillo MÁ, García de Lucas Á, Oteo M, Romero E, Magro N, Ibáñez M, Martínez A, Garaulet G, Arroyo AG, López-Casas PP, Hidalgo M, Mulero F, Martínez-Torrecuadrada J (2018). MT1-MMP as a PET Imaging Biomarker for Pancreas Cancer Management. Contrast Media & Molecular Imaging 2018, 8382148. CNIO Publication. Open Access
Compte M, Harwood SL, Muñoz IG, Navarro R, Zonca M, Perez-Chacon G, Erce-Llamazares A, Merino N, Tapia-Galisteo A, Cuesta AM, Mikkelsen K, Caleiras E, Nuñez-Prado N, Aznar MA, Lykkemark S, Martínez-Torrecuadrada J, Melero I, Blanco FJ, Bernardino de la Serna J, Zapata JM, Sanz L, Alvarez-Vallina L (2018). A tumor-targeted trimeric 4-1BB-agonistic antibody induces potent anti-tumor immunity without systemic toxicity. Nat Commun 9, 4809. CNIO Publication. Open Access
Mortuza GB, Hermida D, Pedersen AK, Segura-Bayona S, López-Méndez B, Redondo P, Rüther P, Pozdnyakova I, Garrote AM, Muñoz IG, Villamor-Payà M, Jauset C, Olsen JV, Stracker TH, Montoya G (2018). Molecular basis of Tousled-Like Kinase 2 activation. Nat Commun 9, 25-35. CNIO Publication. Open Access
Olmeda D, Cerezo-Wallis D, Riveiro-Falkenbach E, Pennacchi PC, Contreras-Alcalde M, Ibarz N, Cifdaloz M, Catena X, Calvo TG, Cañón E, Alonso-Curbelo D, Suarez J, Osterloh L, Graña O, Mulero F, Megías D, Cañamero M, Martínez-Torrecuadrada JL, Mondal C, Di Martino J, Lora D, Martinez-Corral I, Bravo-Cordero JJ, Muñoz J, Puig S, Ortiz-Romero P, Rodriguez-Peralto JL, Ortega S, Soengas MS (2017). Whole-body imaging of lymphovascular niches identifies pre-metastatic roles of midkine.. Nature 546, 676-680. CNIO Publication.
Méndez-Pertuz M, Martínez P, Blanco-Aparicio C, Gómez-Casero E, García AB, Martínez -Torrecuadrada J, Palafox M, Cortés J, Serra V, Pastor J, Blasco MA (2017). Modulation of telomere protection by the PI3K/AKT pathway. Nat Commun 8, 1278. CNIO Publication. Open Access
López M, Mayer C, Fernández-García L, Blasco L, Muras A, Ruiz FM, Bou G, Otero A, Tomás M; GEIH-GEMARA (SEIMC) (2017). Quorum sensing network in clinical strains of A. baumannii: AidA is a new quorum quenching enzyme.. PLoS ONE 12, e0174454. CNIO Publication.
Muñoz IG, Morel B, Medina-Carmona E, Pey AL (2017). A mechanism for cancer-associated inactivation of NQO1 due to P187S and its reactivation by the consensus mutation H80R.. FEBS Lett 591, 2826-2835. CNIO Publication.
Ruiz FM, Francis SM, Tintoré M, Ferreira R, Gil-Redondo R, Morreale A, Ortiz ÁR, Eritja R, Fàbrega C. (2017). Receptor-based virtual screening and biological characterization of human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (Ape1) inhibitors.. ChemMedChem 7, 2168-2178. Publication in other institutions.
Rodriguez A, Garaulet G, Lazcano JJ, Alarcón H, de Frutos S, Martínez-Torrecuadrada JL (2017). Display of the albumin binding domain in the envelope improves lentiviral vector bioavailability.. Hum Gene Ther Methods 28, 340-351. CNIO Publication.
de Lucas AG, Schuhmacher AJ, Oteo M, Romero E, Cámara JA, de Martino A, Arroyo AG, Morcillo MÁ, Squatrito M, Martinez-Torrecuadrada JL, Mulero F (2016). Targeting MT1-MMP as an ImmunoPET-Based Strategy for Imaging Gliomas. PLoS One 11, e0158634. CNIO Publication. Open Access
Krusche B, Ottone C, Clements MP, Johnstone ER, Goetsch K, Lieven H, Mota SG, Singh P, Khadayate S, Ashraf A, Davies T, Pollard SM, De Paola V, Roncaroli F, Martinez-Torrecuadrada J, Bertone P, Parrinello S (2016). EphrinB2 drives perivascular invasion and proliferation of glioblastoma stem-like cells.. Elife pii, e14845. CNIO Publication.
Pucheta-Martinez E, D'Amelio N, Lelli M, Martinez-Torrecuadrada JL, Sudol M, Saladino G, Gervasio FL (2016). Changes in the folding landscape of the WW domain provide a molecular mechanism for an inherited genetic syndrome. Sci Rep 6, 30293. CNIO Publication. Open Access
Boskovic J, Martinez-Gago J, Mendez-Pertuz M, Buscato A, Martinez-Torrecuadrada JL, Blasco MA (2016). Molecular Architecture of Full Length TRF1 Favors its Interaction with DNA.. J Biol Chem 291, 21829-21835. CNIO Publication.
Pucheta-Martínez E, Saladino G, Morando MA, Martinez-Torrecuadrada J, Lelli M, Sutto L, D'Amelio N, Gervasio FL (2016). An Allosteric Cross-Talk Between the Activation Loop and the ATP Binding Site Regulates the Activation of Src Kinase. Sci Rep 6, 24235. CNIO Publication. Open Access
Fuchs JE, Muñoz IG, Timson DJ, Pey AL (2016). Experimental and computational evidence on conformational fluctuations as a source of catalytic defects in genetic diseases.. RSC ADVANCES 6, 58604-58612. CNIO Publication.
Flydal MI, Alcorlo M, Skjaerven S, Muñoz IG, Teigen K, Hermoso JA, Martinez A (2016). Structural and dynamics studies of human phenylalanine hydroxilase, a highly regulated allosteric enzime.. Acta Crystallogr A 72, S239. CNIO Publication.
García Caballero G, Flores-Ibarra A, Michalak M, Khasbiullina N, Bovin NV, André S, Manning JC, Vértesy S, Ruiz FM, Kaltner H, Kopitz J, Romero A, Gabius HJ (2016). Galectin-related protein: An integral member of the network of chicken galectins 1. From strong sequence conservation of the gene confined to vertebrates to biochemical characteristics of the chicken protein and its crystal structure.. Biochim Biophys Acta 1860, 2285-2297. Publication in other institutions.
Spínola-Amilibia M, Davó-Siguero I, Ruiz FM, Santillana E, Medrano FJ, Romero A. (2016). The structure of VgrG1 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the needle tip of the bacterial type VI secretion system.. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 72, 22-33. Publication in other institutions.