Resumen: the RNA polymerase II transcriptional machinery that conforms the preinitiation complex is ubiquitously distributed in all tissues. However, inherited genetic alterations of proteins belonging to this complex lead to almost exclusive neurological phenotypes, suggesting a specialized role or a finer regulation of the basic transcriptional mechanisms in the brain. In this talk, I will present an up and running research on a genetic alteration of TAF1, one of the scaffold proteins of the preinitiation complex, discussing its neuropathological implications in a mouse model and the underlying molecular basis. I will also go through the difficulties encountered in this kind of research, illustrating the scientific reasoning skills that a PhD student should develop.

Bio: Claudia Rodríguez-López graduated in Medicine in 2014 at the Autonoma of Madrid University, where she was a student collaborator in the Biochemical Department, the Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience Department, and later in the Cardiology Service of La Paz University Hospital. She completed the Neurology residency program at Doce de Octubre University Hospital in Madrid, where she carried several clinical investigation projects. Since 2019, she is a PhD student at José Lucas’ group in Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa. Her doctoral research is focused on the molecular basis of neurodegenerative diseases from the transcriptomic point of view.

Fecha y Hora: viernes 4 de noviembre, 12.30 horas

Lugar: Seminario 4