
Biografía
I obtained the PhD. in Plant Biology (1996, University of Valencia) (Institute for Plant Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMCP, Valencia) investigating the role of plant hormones (ABA, IAA and GAs) in pea fruit-set and fruit development using physiological and analytical approaches. My formation at IBMCP was accompanied by several stays at the laboratory of Dr. Hedden (LARS, Bristol). From 1996-2000 I was postdoctoral fellow in the Lab. Prof. D. Bartels at the Max-Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne (Germany) (fellowship Spanish Ministry of Education and Marie Curie EU contract) working on the molecular bases of plant dehydration tolerance. During this period, I worked in different international projects (EU, NATO, DFG-UAMexico, contributing to understand the plant responses to water stress and providing new evidence of novel genes/proteins involved in protection against water deficit and their regulation by ABA. In 2000 I joined the Postharvest Physiology, Pathology and Biotechnology group (IATA-CSIC), first as a postdoc and since 2007 as permanent Researcher-CSIC, developing a research line focused on the characterization and regulation of metabolic pathways of bioactive/nutrient compounds in fruits during ripening and postharvest conditions. My research activity uses physiological, biochemical, genetic and molecular approaches, including -omics, and it is mainly focused on citrus fruits, but not exclusively. My team is international recognized as leader in the carotenoid research in citrus (and other Mediterranean fruits). Specifically, I have led several works uncovering new enzymes controlling citrus fruit pigmentation and carotenoids composition, and the effect of postharvest treatments on carotenoids. I have been part of a national (CaRed 2015-2024) and two international networks (Ibercarot 2012-15 and Eurocaroten 2016-20) on carotenoids, having an active participation and establishing many national and international collaborators which complement the expertise of our group. I would like to remark my role as organizer of the first Carotenoid Spanish Symposium (2017) dedicated to carotenoids, and an International Workshop on Carotenoids and Eurocaroten COST MC Meeting (2018). I led or participated in complementary projects focused on the regulation of the metabolism of volatiles, vitamins C and E, as well as hormones (ABA and ethylene), and their relationship with postharvest physiological disorders and fruit quality. Overall, my research activity has been published in more than 90 SCI articles and participated in 15 book chapters, as well as in other specialized and technical journals. I have regularly presented the research results in international and national symposiums resulting in more than 100 communications. My activity in the postharvest group has been funded by 15 research grants, at international (EU), national (Spanish Government) and regional level (G.Valenciana), being the PI or co-PI in 9 grants. I have participated or been responsible of 15 technological contracts with industry (national or international), most of them focused on analysis of fruit bioactive compounds and postharvest fruit quality. Regarding my contribution to students´ formation, I have co-supervised 8 PhD students (one extraordinary award-International Doctorate), and currently I am co-supervising two additional PhDs. I have supervised more than 10 Master Thesis (two with extraordinary award), and trained more than 15 undergraduate students (practicum/TFG) of Food Science and Technology Area. Our laboratory also hosted a significant number of international students and professors (sabbatical or STSM) due to our active international collaborations. I have been invited to take part in different national and international workshops (University of London, Centro Citricultura-Brasil, University of CostaRica, UIMP) for postgraduate student. I was associated lecturer in `Novel Foods´ at the University of Valencia (2005-07). I regularly review manuscripts in the Food Science and Plant Science areas, and I have reviewed national research projects or postdoctoral contracts (ANEP/AEI), regional and international projects (several agencies). From Nov 2015-Feb 2017 I was the Head of Food Science Department at IATA-CSIC. I am actively involved in outreach activities as past member of the Outreach Committee at IATA-CSIC (2015-19), responsible of workshops for Primary and Secondary Schools (since 2015), Exposcience (Scientific Park, UV), participating in conferences (e.g. Casa Ciencia CSIC), blogs, interviews and the 11F International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Proyectos





Publicaciones
Lana, G, Zacarías-García J, Distefano, G., Gentile, A., Rodrigo, M.J., Zacarías L.
Transcriptional analysis of carotenoids accumulation and metabolism in a pink-fleshed lemon mutant.
Genes (In press) (October) (2020)
DOI: 10.3390/genes11111294Zacarías-García J, Lux PE, Carle R, Schweiggert RM, Steingass CB, Zacarías L, Rodrigo, M.J.
Characterization of the Pale Yellow Petal / Xanthophyll Esterase gene family in citrus as candidates for carotenoid esterification in fruits.
Food Chemistry (In press) (October) (2020)
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128322Zacarías-García, J., Rey, F., Gil, J.-V., Rodrigo, M. J., & Zacarías, L.
Antioxidant capacity in fruit of Citrus cultivars with marked differences in pulp coloration: Contribution of carotenoids and vitamin C.
Food Science and Technology International (In press)(2020)
DOI: 10.1177/1082013220944018Cilla, A., Rodrigo, M.J.; De Ancos, B., Sánchez-Moreno, C., Cano, M.P., Zacarías, L., Barbera, R., Alegria, A.
:Impact of high-pressure processing on the stability and bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds of Clementine mandarin juice and its cytoprotective effect in Caco-2 cells
Food and Function 11:8951 (2020).
DOI: 10.1039/d0fo02048fLux PE, Carle R, Zacarías L, Rodrigo M-J, Schweiggert RM, Steingass CB.
Genuine carotenoid profiles in sweet orange [ Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. Navel] peel and pulp at different maturity stages.
J Agric Food Chem 67(47):13164–75 (2019)
doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b06098Rodrigo MJ, Lado J. Alos E, Alquezar B, Orly D, Hirschberg J , Zacarias L. A mutant allele of zeta-carotene isomerase (Z-ISO) is associated with the yellow pigmentation of the ‘`Pinalate´’ sweet orange mutant and reveals new insights into its role in fruit carotenogenesis.
BMC Plant Biology . (2019) DOI:10.1186/s12870-019-2078-2Lado J. Alos E, Manzi M, Cronje PJR, Gomez-Cadenas A, Rodrigo MJ, Zacarias L. Light regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis in the peel of mandarin and sweet orange fruits.
Frontiers in Plant Science 10:1-16 (2019) DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01288Lado, J, Gurrea, A., Zacarías L, Rodrigo M.J. Influence of the storage temperature on volatile emission, carotenoid content and chilling injury development in Star Ruby red grapefruit
Food Chemistry 225:72-91 (2019) DOI:10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.05.108Llopis S, Rodrigo M, González N, Genovés S, Zacarías L, Ramón D, Martorell, P. β-Cryptoxanthin Reduces Body Fat and Increases Oxidative Stress Response in Caenorhabditis elegans Model.
Nutrients 11(2):232 (2019) DOI: 10.3390/nu11020232Rodriguez-Concepcion, M., Avalos, J., Luisa Bonet, M., Boronat, A., Gomez-Gomez, L., Hornero-Mendez, D., Limon, M.C., Meléndez-Martínez,A.J., Olmedilla-Alonso, B., Palou, A., Ribot, J., Rodrigo, M.J., Zacarias, L., Zhu, C. A global perspective on carotenoids: Metabolism, biotechnology, and benefits for nutrition and health.
Progress in Lipid Research 70: 62-93 (2018). DOI:10.1016/j.plipres.2018.04.004Barros, M., Rodrigo,M.J. and Zacarias, L.
Dietary carotenoid roles in redox homeostasis and human health. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 66: 5733–5740 (2018)
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b00866
Patentes
- Fecha de solicitud:dimecres, 4 novembre, 2015