Germán Rivas' group at CIB-Margarita Salas

MAIN SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS

​

​

Protein-DNA-membrane interactions in bacterial division:

​

• MatP protein from the chromosomal Ter-linkage (2019) and the nucleoid-associated SlmA protein bind to lipid membranes (2020) as evidenced by biochemical reconstitution

 

​

FtsZ and macromolecular phase separation

​

• FtsZ forms phase separated condensates with its nucleotide-associated inhibitor SlmA in crowded cell-like media (2019, 2020)

• Dissipative self-assembly of FtsZ in coacervate cells (2018)

• Crowding-driven phase transitions control FtsZ spatial organization in artificial containers (2016,2017)

​

​

Reconstruction of minimal divisomes in membrane systems and cell-like compartments

​

• Chiral vortex dynamics in membranes is an intrinsic property of FtsZ (2018)

• FtsZ waves driven by the division site selection MinCDE complex in ZipA-containing bilayers (2015)

• Dynamic interactions between proto-ring elements evidenced in nanodiscs (2013), lipid-coated beads (2017), and supported lipid bilayers (2019)

• Constriction forces partially reproduced by proto-ring elements when assembled in permeable giant vesicles (2013)

​

​

Biochemical reactions in cytomimetic media: macromolecular crowding

​

• Cytomimetic approaches to narrow the gap between in vitro and in vivo studies of macromolecular organization and cell function (2016, 2018)

• Macromolecular crowding and confinement: physicochemical and biochemical consequences (2008)

​

​

Biochemical and biophysical analysis of FtsZ associations and assembly

​

• Description of the mechanism of interaction between FtsZ and negative regulators of Z-ring stability (MinC, SlmA, and bacteriophage l Kill) in solution (2013, 2015)  

• Control by nucleotides, Mg, and crowding of FtsZ oligomerization and assembly (2001, 2003, 2005, 2012, 2013)