jvarela

Profile

Profile profile for jvarela

Photo: 
Job title: 
Professor
Eurocaroten role: 
WG Participant
First name: 
João
Last name: 
Varela
Short research description: 

We have ben studying the carotenoid biosynthetic pathways in microalgae. We combine molecular biology and biochemistry to understand how microalgae are able to accumulate carotenoids using Dunaliella salina and other microalgae as targets / model organisms. Lately, we have been using high-throughput approaches, such as flow cytometry and fluorescence activated cell sorting for finding lipid-rich microalgae, which stand a higher chance of becoming carotenoid hyperproducers, as the latter need a lipid sink in order to accumulate these compounds.We also study carotenoids in terms of their bioactivities. Recently we have found out that a common carotenoid catabolite, isololiolide, has strong activity against hepatocarcinoma cells, inducing apoptosis rather than necrosis at relatively low concentrations.

Techniques routinely used: 
HPLC,spectrophotometry, GC-MS,gravimetry, PCR, qPCR, fluorometry
Instrumentation/Facilities: 
HPLC, GC-MS, qPCR, microplate plate reader (Fluorometry, Spectrophotometry), DNA sequencer
Country: 
Portugal
City: 
Faro
Institution: 
Centre of Marine Sciences of Algarve
Department: 
Marine Biotechnology (MarBiotech)
Address: 

University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas

Zip Code: 
8005-139 Faro
Phone: 
+351-910732049
Matrix: 
Microorganisms
By-products
Gender: 
Male
WG option 1: 
WG1
WG option 2: 
WG4
Scientific approach: 
Fundamental
Applied
Industrial
Areas: 
Analysis
Aquaculture
Biochemistry
Biology
Chemistry
Health
Industrial Biotechnology
Nutrition
Production
Other keywords: 
Biological Actions
Biosynthesis
Systems Biology
STMS hosting: 
No
Meetings hosting: 
Yes

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COST is supported by the EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020.