The Yeast Genomics* lab @ NOVA

(*evolutionary, functional, comparative and more)

Research

The Yeast Genomics lab @ NOVA, is currently interested in several topics of yeast biology that can be fruitfully explored using comparative genomics and phylogenetics

Domestication of plants and animals and the onset of agriculture were a major revolution in the history of mankind since they promoted humanity’s transition from nomadic to sedentary lifestyles, the consequent demographic expansion and the emergence of civilizations. In contrast to the well understood mechanisms of animal and plant domestication, processes of microbe domestication remain obscure despite the importance of microbes to the production of food, beverages, and biofuels.

We are interested in knowing more about the function and evolution of sugar transporters in fungi. Presently, our focus is on fructose transporters that play a major role in fructophily in yeasts.

We are interested in the molecular and functional characterization of mating systems in basidiomycete yeasts belonging to two distant phylogenetic lineages: Phaffia rhodozyma in the Agaricomycotina and a group of saprobe red-pigmented yeasts in the Pucciniomycotina, which are closely related to important plant pathogens like the rust fungi.

Proj 20529 - Exploring unique metabolic traits of biotechnological interest in fructophilic yeasts (PI: Paula Gonçalves)

PTDC/BIA-MIC/30785/2017 - Advancing wine yeast genomics – exploring the evolutionary dimensions of domestication and the emergence of virulence" (PI JP Sampaio)

PTDC/BIA-MIC/1716/2014 - A new paradigm on fungal nuclear cycles? An investigation to the widespread occurrence of diploid nuclei throughout the life cycle of rust fungi and comparison with other Pucciniomycetes (team member: Marco A. Coelho)

UCIBIO

Victor Guedes SA - Contract Research  

Fermentis - Contract Research

Current Funding

Cost action FP 1305 Biolink - Linking below ground biodiversity and ecosystem function in European forests

SAPEC Agro - Contract Reseach

Sumol+Compal - Contract Reseach

PTDC/AGR-ALI/118590/2010 - Tracing domestication in microbes - the case of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (PI: José P. Sampaio)

PTDC/BIA-EVF/118618/2010 - Out of Gondwana – a phylogeographic hypothesis for the radiation of Saccharomyces (PI: José P. Sampaio)

PTDC/AGR-ALI/112802/2009 - Improvement of fructose fermentation by industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (PI: Paula Gonçalves)

PTDC/BIA-GEN/112799/2009 - Comparative genomics approach to unravelling a new sexual reproduction system in fungi (PI: Paula Gonçalves)

Past Funding

Yeast Evolutionary Ecology and Domestication

José Paulo Sampaio

Evolution of Sexual Reproduction in Basidiomycetes

Paula Gonçalves

Function and Evolution of Sugar Transporters

Paula Gonçalves