Mikel Valle
mvalle
Mikel Valle
GROUP LEADER
CryoEM of Biological Macromolecules Lab
Address: Bizkaia Science and Technology Park, building 800, Derio (Bizkaia)

Mikel Valle obtained his BSc in Biology from the University of Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and continued his scientific pursuits by completing his PhD in Molecular Biology from the Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain.

In 1999, Dr. Valle began his tenure as an HHMI Research Associate with Prof. Joachim Frank at the Wadsworth Center in Albany, USA, immersing himself in cutting-edge cryoEM advancements focused on ribosomal studies. This period yielded seminal contributions, elucidating fundamental aspects of ribosomal function during translation. After returning to Spain, Dr. Valle joined the National Center for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC) with a Ramon y Cajal Fellowship, later establishing himself as a CSIC Tenure Scientist at the same institution.

In 2006, Dr. Valle joined CIC bioGUNE as Group Leader of the CryoEM of Biological Macromolecules Lab. His laboratory explores the structure and dynamics of biological molecules using cryoEM. This technique enables observation of large complexes at atomic resolution and can distinguish between different structural states. These capabilities facilitate characterization of the conformational landscape of biological samples during their functional processes. Essentially, the group can examine multiple intermediates of a biological process simultaneously, revealing sequential reaction steps in detail.

Awards & recognitions
EBSA award for young European scientist (2009). GIZA:XEDE talent award (2006-2009).

Latest Publications

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

Our team explores the structure and dynamics of biological molecules by cryoEM. The technique allows observing large complexes at atomic resolution and can separate different conformational states. These features open up the possibility to characterize the conformational landscape of the sample of interest while performing its function. In essence, we can examine several intermediates of a particular biological process in just “one shot” and reveal sequential steps of the reaction in detail. We work on several biological systems:

Research line 1: Large oligomeric enzymes
One line of research involves observing enzymes like Pyruvate Carboxylase and Glutamate Dehydrogenase during catalysis using cryoEM to elucidate their enzymatic mechanisms and allosteric regulations.

Research line 2: Structure of flexible filamentous plant viruses
This line of research focuses on the structure of flexible filamentous plant viruses, including the first atomic structure delivered for a potyvirus and demonstrating structural similarities between potexviruses and potyviruses.

Research line 3: Ribosomal structures
The third line focuses on ribosomal structures elucidating mechanisms of nascent protein folding and translation regulation.

Collaborations
Our group has a network of national and international collaborations in each line of research: Liang Tong (Columbia University, USA) and Natalia Lisa (IBR, CONICET-UNR, Argentina) on enzymatic oligomers. Miguel Aranda (CEBAS-CSIC, Murcia) and Fernando Ponz (CBGP, Madrid) on flexible filamentous plant viruses. Marina Rodnina (Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Germany) on ribosomal complexes.

Links
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-33987-2

Latest Publications

Understanding the key features of the spontaneous formation of bona fide prions through a novel methodology that enables their swift and consistent generation

Eraña, H; Díaz-Domínguez, CM; Charco, JM; Vidal, E; González-Miranda, E; Pérez-Castro, MA; Piñeiro, P; López-Moreno, R; Sampedro-Torres-Quevedo, C; Fernández-Veiga, L; Tasis-Galarza, J; Lorenzo, ...

ACTA NEUROPATHOLOGICA COMMUNICATIONS

2023-09-07

Genomic insights into metabolic flux in hummingbirds

Gershman, A; Hauck, Q; Dick, M; Jamison, JM; Tassia, M; Agirrezabala, X; Muhammad, S; Ali, R; Workman, RE; Valle, M; Wong, GW; Welch, KC Jr; Timp, W;

GENOME RESEARCH

2023-05-01

Effect of ATG12-ATG5-ATG16L1 autophagy E3-like complex on the ability of LC3/GABARAP proteins to induce vesicle tethering and fusion

Iriondo, MN; Etxaniz, A; Varela, YR; Ballesteros, U; Lázaro, M; Valle, M; Fracchiolla, D; Martens, S; Montes, LR; Goñi, FM; Alonso, A;

CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES

2023-02-01

CryoEM structural exploration of catalytically active enzyme pyruvate carboxylase

López-Alonso, JP; Lázaro, M; Gil-Cartón, D; Choi, PH; Tong, L; Valle, M;

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS

2022-10-19

Autophagy protein LC3C binding to phospholipid and interaction with lipid membranes

Ballesteros, U; Etxaniz, A; Iriondo, MN; Varela, YR; Lazaro, M; Viguera, AR; Montes, LR; Valle, M; Goni, FM; Alonso, A;

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES

2022-05-26

A switch from α-helical to β-strand conformation during co-translational protein folding

Agirrezabala, X; Samatova, E; Macher, M; Liutkute, M; Maiti, M; Gil-Carton, D; Novacek, J; Valle, M; Rodnina, MV;

EMBO JOURNAL

2022-01-07

3D architecture and structural flexibility revealed in the subfamily of large glutamate dehydrogenases by a mycobacterial enzyme

Lázaro, M; Melero, R; Huet, C; López-Alonso, JP; Delgado, S; Dodu, A; Bruch, EM; Abriata, LA; Alzari, PM; Valle, M; Lisa, MN;

COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY

2021-06-03

Structural Characterization of N-Linked Glycans in the Receptor Binding Domain of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and their Interactions with Human Lectins

Lenza, MP; Oyenarte, I; Diercks, T; Quintana, JI; Gimeno, A; Coelho, H; Diniz, A; Peccati, F; Delgado, S; Bosch, A; Valle, M; Millet, O; Abrescia, NGA; Palazn, A; Marcelo, F; Jiménez-Osés, G; ...

ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION

2020-10-22

Photoacoustic effect applied on model membranes and living cells: direct observation with multiphoton excitation microscopy and long-term viability analysis

Galisteo-González, F; Monasterio, BG; Gil, D; Valle, M; Goñi, FM;

SCIENTIFIC REPORTS

2020-01-15

Structure of Turnip mosaic virus and its viral-like particles

Cuesta, R; Yuste-Calvo, C; Gil-Cartón, D; Sánchez, F; Ponz, F; Valle, M;

SCIENTIFIC REPORTS

2019-10-28

Insights into real-time chemical processes in a calcium sensor protein-directed dynamic library

Canal-Martín, A; Sastre, J; Sánchez-Barrena, MJ; Canales, A; Baldominos, S; Pascual, N; Martínez-González, L; Molero, D; Fernández-Valle, ME; Sáez, E; Blanco-Gabella, P; Gómez-Rubio, E; Martín-Santamaría, ...

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS

2019-06-26

Structural Homology Between Nucleoproteins of ssRNA Viruses

Valle, M; Harris Jr; Bhella, D;

VIRUS PROTEIN AND NUCLEOPROTEIN COMPLEXES

2018-01-01

Potyvirus virion structure shows conserved protein fold and RNA binding site in ssRNA viruses

Zamora, M; Méndez-López, E; Agirrezabala, X; Cuesta, R; Lavín, JL; Sánchez-Pina, MA; Aranda, MA; Valle, M;

SCIENCE ADVANCES

2017-09-01

Does Ceramide Form Channels? The Ceramide-Induced Membrane Permeabilization Mechanism

Artetxe, I; Ugarte-Uribe, B; Gil, D; Valle, M; Alonso, A; García-Sáez, AJ; Goñi, FM;

BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL

2017-08-22

Coating Graphene Oxide with Lipid Bilayers Greatly Decreases Its Hemolytic Properties

Monasterio, BG; Alonso, B; Sot, J; García-Arribas, AB; Gil-Cartón, D; Valle, M; Zurutuza, A; Goñi, FM;

LANGMUIR

2017-08-22

Ribosome rearrangements at the onset of translational bypassing

Agirrezabala, X; Samatova, E; Klimova, M; Zamora, M; Gil-Carton, D; Rodnina, MV; Valle, M;

SCIENCE ADVANCES

2017-06-01

"Pyruvate Carboxylase, Structure and Function"

Valle, M; Harris Jr; MarlesWright, J;

MACROMOLECULAR PROTEIN COMPLEXES: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

2017-01-01

Identification of a Membrane-bound Prepore Species Clarifies the Lytic Mechanism of Actinoporins

Morante, K; Bellomio, A; Gil-Cartón, D; Redondo-Morata, L; Sot, J; Scheuring, S; Valle, M; González-Mañas, JM; Tsumoto, K; Caaveiro, JMM;

JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY

2016-09-09

Lipid Modulation of LC3/GABARAP-Mediated Autophagosomal Elongation

Alonso, A; Landajuela, A; Hervas, JH; Anton, Z; Montes, LR; Gil, D; Valle, M; Rodriguez, JF; Goni, FM;

BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL

2016-02-16

Lipid Geometry and Bilayer Curvature Modulate LC3/GABARAP-Mediated Model Autophagosomal Elongation

Landajuela, A; Hervás, JH; Antón, Z; Montes, LR; Gil, D; Valle, M; Rodriguez, JF; Goñi, FM; Alonso, A;

BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL

2016-01-19