ERC Advanced Grant Ikerbasque Research Professor
0000-0001-5421-8513Jesús Jiménez-Barbero obtained his BSc in Chemistry from the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) and continued his scientific pursuits by completing his PhD in Chemistry from UAM, working at CSIC, Spain. During that period, he also worked at CERMAV-CNRS (Grenoble, 1986). Following that, Dr. Jiménez-Barbero pursued postdoctoral studies at the University of Zurich in Switzerland (1987/88), the National Institute for Medical Research in the UK (1988), and Carnegie Mellon University in the USA (1990-92).
Before moving to CIC bioGUNE where he has led its recognition as Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence in 2017 and 2022, he was CSIC Research Professor at CIB-CSIC (2002-14). Previously, he was CSIC tenured scientist (1992-96) and senior research scientist (1996-2002). He was Visiting Professor at École Normale Supérieure, Paris (2004), Sorbonne (2009), Univ. Milano Bicocca (2009-12) and now at the University of the Basque Country since 2016.
From the management perspective, he was President of RSEQ (Royal Society of Chemistry of Spain, 2011-17), after serving before as Secretary General (2004-2011). He also was Head of the Chemistry Panel of the National Plan for Research of the Ministry of Science (2009-18).
In 2014, he joined CIC bioGUNE as an Ikerbasque Research Professor and Scientific Director. His scientific focus lies in Chemical Biology, particularly exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying the recognition of various ligands, with a primary emphasis on glycans, by biological receptors associated with biomedical phenomena such as cancer and infectious diseases. His laboratory employs a comprehensive approach, including chemical synthesis, protein biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysics, molecular modeling, and structural biology techniques such as X-Ray crystallography and CryoEM, with a special emphasis on NMR spectroscopy.
Noteworthy contributions include systematic studies on glycan-lectin interactions, significantly advancing our understanding of glycan-mediated interactions in health and disease, documented in over 600 scientific publications and 300 invited and plenary lectures. Dr. Jiménez-Barbero has supervised several dozens of PhDs and postdocs, led multiple EU-funded and industry collaborations, and received the ERC AdG for his project RECGLYCANMR (2018-2024), which employs paramagnetic metals and NMR probes (19F, 13C) to scrutinize molecular recognition events in vitro and in-cell.
Awards & recognitions
These studies have been recognized with the National Prize of Research in Chemical Sciences & Technology in 2023, the International Whistler Award in Carbohydrate Chemistry in 2010, and the Gold Medal of RSEQ in 2018, among many others.
Latest Publications
2023
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Ainara González Zarandona
TECHNICIANS / DOCTORAL CANDIDATES -
Donatello Castellana
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Itziar Gil de la Pisa
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Sandra Verdejo García
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Jana Sendra Viscarro
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Begoña Bareño
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Natxo Reguera Pascual
Members
SPECIALISTThe Chemical Glycobiology Lab is actively engaged in extensive multidisciplinary studies on diverse glycan-lectin systems related to health and disease. This collaborative research involves Senior (Jimenez-Barbero, Ardá, Ereño-Orbea, Unione) and Emerging Scientists (Gimeno), along with Specialists, Technicians, Postdoctoral associates, and Doctoral candidates.
Using a combination of diverse and synergic methodologies, including chemical synthesis, protein biochemistry and molecular biology, biophysics (ITC, BLI), molecular modelling, and structural biology (X-Ray crystallography and CryoEM), with special emphasis on NMR spectroscopy, the Chemical Glycobiology lab investigates the interactions of glycans related to immune responses, from cancer to bacterial and viral infections.
Indeed, glycans, prevalent on mammalian cells and in the extracellular matrix, collectively form the glycocalyx, impacting physical properties, regulating protein function, and acting as ligands for lectins. Dysregulation of glycosyltransferases results in tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs), unique to tumor cells. While TACAs are recognized therapeutic targets, their low immunogenicity presents a challenge for T-cell-dependent immune responses crucial in cancer therapy. TACAs play a crucial role in modulating immune responses within the tumor microenvironment through interactions with lectins. Similar interactions are observed in bacterial and viral-mediated infectious events.
From the application side, the focus is on structure-based drug and vaccine design, collaborating with research groups and pharmaceutical companies worldwide, investigating lectin-glycan and antibody-glycan molecular recognition processes. Additionally, from the basic perspective, we explore the conformational properties of glycans, specially the glycosyl oxocarbenium cations, key intermediates in synthesis and cleavage, and examine the presentation and dynamic properties of glycans designed for specific geometrical shapes.
In parallel, the laboratory continuously develops cutting-edge NMR-based techniques. Special emphasis is placed on the use of stable isotopes (13C, 19F) to push the boundaries of NMR applications. These advancements are vital for understanding the pivotal roles of glycans in their interactions with receptors, influencing biological responses associated with health or disease.
Specific areas and research lines include:
- • Interactions of glycans with galectins and C-type lectins, overseen by Dr. Ana Ardá.
- • Recognition of sialic acids by Siglecs and their role as glyco-immune checkpoints, led by Dr. June Ereño-Orbea.
- • Attachment of glycans to influenza virus proteins and other pathogens, investigating their impact on infections, directed by Dr. Luca Unione.
- • Analysis of proteoglycans and the functional landscape of glycosylation in cancer, spearheaded by Dr. Ana Gimeno.
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Luca Unione
ERC Starting Grant - Ikerbasque Research Associate - Juan de la Cierva Fellow -
Ana Arda
Ikerbasque Research Associate Emerging Scientist -
Ana Maria Gimeno Cardells
Ramón y Cajal (RyC) Programme - Ikerbasque Research Fellow SPECIALIST -
Ana Poveda
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER -
Iris Alicia Bermejo Ruíz
MSCA-PF Fellow -
Diego Damián Del Balzo
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Pablo Valverde Sánchez
MSCA-GF Fellow -
Maria Jesús Moure García
TECHNICIANS / DOCTORAL CANDIDATES -
Sandra Delgado
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Milena Bartoloni
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Maria Alejandra Travecedo
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María Payá García
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Mirane Florencio Zabaleta
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Alberto Marina
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Cristina Fernández Pérez
Members
Associate Principal InvestigatorLatest Publications
Insights into the transglucosylation activity of α-glucosidase from Schwanniomyces occidentalis
Merdzo, Z; Narmontaite, E; Gonzalez-Alfonso, JL; Poveda, A; Jimenez-Barbero, J; Plou, FJ; Fernández-Lobato, M;
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
2024-12-01
Antigenic determinants driving serogroup-specific antibody response to Neisseria meningitidis C, W, and Y capsular polysaccharides: Insights for rational vaccine design
Pietri, GP; Bertuzzi, S; Karnicar, K; Unione, L; Lisnic, B; Malic, S; Miklic, K; Novak, M; Calloni, I; Santini, L; Usenik, A; Romano, MR; Adamo, R; Jonjic, S; Turk, D; Jimenez-Barbero, J; Rovis, ...
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
2024-10-01
Unprecedented selectivity for homologous lectin targets: differential targeting of the viral receptors L-SIGN and DC-SIGN
Delaunay, C; Pollastri, S; Thépaut, M; Cavazzoli, G; Belvisi, L; Bouchikri, C; Labiod, N; Lasala, F; Gimeno, A; Franconetti, A; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Ardá, A; Delgado, R; Bernardi, A; Fieschi, ...
CHEMICAL SCIENCE
2024-08-27
Influence of Selective Deoxyfluorination on the Molecular Structure of Type-2 N-Acetyllactosamine
Kurfirt, M; Stastna, LC; Dracinsky, M; Pohl, R; Cisarová, I; Sykora, J; Balouch, M; Baka, M; Hamala, V; Cañada, FJ; Ardá, A; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Karban, J;
JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
2024-08-23
Insights into the recognition of hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates by innate immune lectins of the Siglec and galectin families
Campanero-Rhodes, MA; Martí, S; Hernández-Ortiz, N; Cubero, M; Ereño-Orbea, J; Ardá, A; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Ardanuy, C; Solís, D;
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
2024-08-01
Different roles of the heterodimer architecture of galectin-4 in selective recognition of oligosaccharides and lipopolysaccharides having ABH antigens.
Quintana, Jon I; Massaro, Mora; Cagnoni, Alejandro J; Nunez-Franco, Reyes; Delgado, Sandra; Jimenez-Oses, Gonzalo; Marino, Karina V; Rabinovich, Gabriel A; Jimenez-Barbero, Jesus; Arda, Ana; ...
The Journal of biological chemistry
2024-07-15
Nanotechnology-assisted intracellular delivery of antibody as a precision therapy approach for KRAS-driven tumors
López-Estévez, AM; Sanjurjo, L; Turrero, A; Arriaga, I; Abrescia, NGA; Poveda, A; Jimenez-Barbero, J; Vidal, A; Torres, D; Alonso, MJ;
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
2024-07-15
Exploring galectin interactions with human milk oligosaccharides and blood group antigens identifies BGA6 as a functional galectin-4 ligand.
Cagnoni, Alejandro J; Massaro, Mora; Cutine, Anabela M; Gimeno, Ana; Perez-Saez, Juan M; Manselle Cocco, Montana N; Maller, Sebastian M; Di Lella, Santiago; Jimenez-Barbero, Jesus; Arda, Ana; ...
The Journal of biological chemistry
2024-07-13
Quantifying Siglec-sialylated ligand interactions: a versatile 19F-T2 CPMG filtered competitive NMR displacement assay
Atxabal, U; Fernández, A; Moure, MJ; Sobczak, K; Nycholat, C; Almeida-Marrero, V; Oyenarte, I; Paulson, JC; de la Escosura, A; Torres, T; Reichardt, NC; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Ereño-Orbea, J;
CHEMICAL SCIENCE
2024-06-07
Solid-Phase-Supported Chemoenzymatic Synthesis and Analysis of Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan Glycopeptides
Lin, PH; Xu, YM; Bali, SK; Kim, J; Gimeno, A; Roberts, ET; James, D; Almeida, NMS; Loganathan, N; Fan, F; Wilson, AK; Amster, IJ; Moremen, KW; Liu, J; Jimenez-Barbero, J; Huang, XF;
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
2024-05-23
Disentangling Glycan-Protein Interactions: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to the Rescue
Bertuzzi, S; Poveda, A; Ardá, A; Gimeno, A; Jiménez-Barbero, J;
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
2024-05-17
A Multidisciplinary Structural Approach to the Identification of the Haemophilus influenzae Type b Capsular Polysaccharide Protective Epitope
Nonne, F; Dello Iacono, L; Bertuzzi, S; Unione, L; Proietti, D; Norais, N; Margarit, I; Adamo, R; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Carboni, F; Romano, MR;
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
2024-02-22
Dissecting the Conformational Stability of a Glycan Hairpin
Yadav, N; Djalali, S; Poveda, A; Ricardo, MG; Seeberger, PH; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Delbianco, M;
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
2024-02-20
Unraveling Molecular Recognition of Glycan Ligands by Siglec-9 via NMR Spectroscopy and Molecular Dynamics Modeling
Atxabal, U; Nycholat, C; Pröpster, JM; Fernández, A; Oyenarte, I; Lenza, MP; Franconetti, A; Soares, CO; Coelho, H; Marcelo, F; Schubert, M; Paulson, JC; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Ereño-Orbea, J;
ACS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
2024-02-16
Evolution of human H3N2 influenza virus receptor specificity has substantially expanded the receptor-binding domain site
Thompson, AJ; Wu, NC; Canales, A; Kikuchi, C; Zhu, XY; de Toro, BF; Cañada, FJ; Worth, C; Wang, SY; Mcbride, R; Peng, WJ; Nycholat, CM; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Wilson, IA; Paulson, JC;
CELL HOST & MICROBE
2024-02-14
Strategy for the Enzymatic Acylation of the Apple Flavonoid Phloretin Based on Prior α-Glucosylation
Gonzalez-Alfonso, JL; Alonso, C; Poveda, A; Ubiparip, Z; Ballesteros, AO; Desmet, T; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Coderch, L; Plou, FJ;
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
2024-02-13
The impact of glycosylation on the structure, function, and interactions of CD14.
Quintana, Jon Imanol; Delgado, Sandra; Rabano, Miriam; Azkargorta, Mikel; Florencio-Zabaleta, Mirane; Unione, Luca; Vivanco, Maria dM; Elortza, Felix; Jimenez-Barbero, Jesus; Arda, Ana;
Glycobiology
2024-01-16
Illuminating a Solvent-Dependent Hierarchy for Aromatic CH/π Complexes with Dynamic Covalent Glyco-Balances
Díaz-Casado, L; Villacampa, A; Corzana, F; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Gómez, AM; Santana, AG; Asensio, JL;
JACS AU
2024-01-02
Targeting the Spike: Repurposing Mithramycin and Dihydroergotamine to Block SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Stagnoli, S; Macari, G; Corsi, P; Capone, B; Vidaurrazaga, A; Ereño-Orbea, J; Ardá, A; Polticelli, F; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Abrescia, NGA; Coluzza, I;
ACS OMEGA
2023-11-13
Synthesis of a glycan hairpin
Fittolani, G; Tyrikos-Ergas, T; Poveda, A; Yu, Y; Yadav, N; Seeberger, PH; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Delbianco, M;
NATURE CHEMISTRY
2023-07-03