Martinez Group

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We focus on understanding how the information contained in the form of RNA is important during processes like reproduction and stress. Particularly, we are focused in understanding the RNA silencing (RNAi) and epigenetic mechanisms and how dynamic they are in regulating stress and reproduction.

In particular, we are interested in determining what are the populations and role of the small RNAs (sRNAs) present in plant gametes and how they affect RNA homeostasis and epigenetic control. sRNAs are very important players in almost all processes of development, from the epigenetic control of transposable elements to the regulation of developmental signals. All these processes must be extremely well coordinated during gamete formation and reproduction so we aim to categorize and understand all the different classes of sRNAs that are present in the gametes and how they change and interact during reproduction. We use different techniques for that, including high-throughput sequencing and quantitative microscopy. 

In addition, we aim to understand the role of RNAi and epigenetic regulation during stress. Plant genomes are dynamically regulated under stress, what means that the genes that are expressed change dramatically when plants struggle with stresses. One of the most interesting players of this regulation is epigenetic control. Epigenetic regulation (DNA methylation and histone marks) is a reversible signal that can regulate gene expression through different ways. It is thought to be an on/off switch for gene expression, but also to mark genomes with some kind of memory of the previous generation stress. We aim to understand how dynamic epigenetic regulation is during stress, and we are interested in the interaction of these marks with RNAi during both abiotic and biotic stresses