Welcome to International Journal of Biology and Medicine

Mrs. Agatha Bastida

Affiliation :
Spanish National Research Council CSIC, Institute of General Organic Chemistry,Spain

Biography :

The scientific objectives that I pursued throughout my research career since joining the CSIC at the Institute of Catalysis and Petro chemistry in 1990 where I do my thesis could be summarized in the following points: -Obtained immobilized enzymes for use in synthesis of bioactive compounds in both single-phase and two-phase systems. The research work carried out under this objective gave rise to some of the following publications as well as the participation in different scientific projects and coauthor of several patents: Biotechnol. Bioeeng. 1991, 38, 1144-1152. Med. Fac. Landbouww Rijkuniv. 1991. 56, 4. Biomed. Biochim. Acta 1991, 50, 10/11, 110-113. Biotechnol. Bioeeng. 1992, 39, 75-84. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1992, 672, 158-166. Enzyme Microb. Technol. 1993, 15, 546-550. J. Mol. Catal. B: Enzymatic 1993, 84, 373-379. Carbohydr. Res. 2002, 337.18, 1615-21. Enzymes as catalysts for the synthesis and racemic resolution of bioactive compounds. The research work carried out under this objective gave rise to some of the following publications. Biotechnol. Bioeeng. 1997, 58, 487-493. Biorg. Med. Chem. Letters. 1999., 9, 633-636. J. Mol. Cat B: Enzymatic.2001. 11, 649-656. Enzyme Microb. Technol. 2001.28, 4-5, 389-396. The research I have developed since joining the Institute of General Organic Chemistry, in particular in the Department of Bio-Organic Chemistry in 1997 was focused mainly on the development and use of modern Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Organic Synthesis methodologies for the study of problems of interest in Biology and Biomedicine. The framework of applications of the results obtained ranges from the preparation of bioactive enantiopure compounds by catalytic and stoichiometric methods to the study of the interaction processes of the products synthesized with other biomolecules such as RNA and proteins.considered as general objective the application of modern methodologies of organic chemistry to the design, obtaining and characterization of bioactive compounds. Clearly, an efficient approach to the discovery of new biologically active molecules requires a confluence of diverse scientific disciplines, such as structural biology, organic synthesis, theoretical chemistry, biochemistry or molecular biology. The research work carried out under this objective gave rise to some of the following publications of great relevance: Chem. Eur. J. 2001.11, 7, 2390-239. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2001, 21, 11412-35. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2002, 10, 737-742. ChemBioChem. 2003, 4, 531-540. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 12, 2004, 1817-1834. Chem. 2004, 1634-1635In 2005, I3P was awarded an I3P contract at the Institute of General Organic Chemistry at the CSIC, which allowed me to start working with some new enzymes, the aminoglycosyltransferases, which are enzymes of resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics. In 2006 I obtained the position of Titular Scientist, and I am attached to the Department of Bioorganic Chemistry. In 2007 I was granted an intramural project under the title: "Therapeutic recovery of aminoglycoside antibiotics Characterization of the enzymes that confer resistance to these antibiotics". Since then, thanks to my previous training as well as the collaborations I maintain in the department with Researcher Eduardo Garcia-Junceda, Research Professor Alfonso Fernández-Mayoralas, Researcher Juan Luis Asensio and the titular scientist Julia Revuelta has allowed me to work in a multidisciplinary field since each of us cover very different areas of Chemistry and Biology. Generally, the objective of my future line of research will be to apply the approach and tools of Organic Chemistry to the study of biological problems. Therefore, an important part of the activity to be carried out will focus on obtaining low molecular weight bioactive molecules that can be used as tests or probes for the knowledge of biological systems. Another essential aspect will be the use of recombinant DNA techniques to obtain and modify proteins, enzymes and nucleic acids that act as receptors or that can be used as biocatalysts in Organic Synthesis. Another perspective, no less important within the line, is the study of the structure, active conformation and interactions of these biological entities with the molecules of small size.

Research Interest :

Multidisciplinary chemistry, Biotechnology, Chemical technology