building 800, Derio (Bizkaia)
His research interest is focused on the structural characterization of macromolecular machines by cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM). After his PhD in Madrid, he joined Prof. Joachim Frank in the USA, where Dr. Valle tasted the latest developments in cryoEM applied to the study of the ribosome. This period was really fruitful, and several classic articles revealed fundamental aspects of the ribosomal functioning during translation. After a short period as civil servant in the Spanish Research Council (CSIC), Mikel Valle joined CIC bioGUNE in 2006. Since then, Dr. Valle leads a team focused on several projects, from ribosomal structure to large metabolic enzymes, always by means of cryoEM, a powerful structural biology technique. His research has recently delivered the highest resolution structure for a plant flexible filamentous virus.
The structural study of biological macromolecules is key to understand their functioning. By means of cryo-electron microscopy we can obtain 3D maps biological complexes under nearly physiological conditions, and the latest developments in the field allow for near-atomic resolution, providing detailed observation of molecules. The aim of the team is to describe the structure and the conformational changes associated with the biological function. We focus on motors involved in universal biological functions where interactions between protein and nucleic acids are essential. Structural studies of ribosomes during translation allow the understanding of the mechanisms which govern protein synthesis. In this process, interactions with translation factors and interference by several antibiotics are especially important. We also analyze the structure of flexible filamentous viruses, a group of plant pathogens, and large oligomeric enzymes such as pyruvate carboxylase.
