Ikerbasque Research Fellow Juan de la Cierva Fellow
0000-0003-1786-959XYlenia Jabalera obtained her BSc in Biochemistry (2016) and MSc degrees in Biotechnology (2017) and Edaphology (2021) from the University of Granada, Spain. She earned her PhD in Fundamental and Systems Biology in 2021, focusing on magnetic nanosystems for nanomedicine and nanotechnology.
In 2021, Dr. Jabalera joined CIC nanoGUNE, where she expanded her expertise in molecular evolution and computational enzyme design. In 2023, she moved to CIC bioGUNE in the Synthetic Biology Lab as a Juan de la Cierva Fellow, contributing to the development of synthetic CRISPR-Cas nucleases for genome editing. Her work included international research stays at the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research in Germany.
In 2025, she was awarded both the la Caixa Junior Leader Fellowship and the Ikerbasque Research Fellowship. She currently holds the position of Emerging Scientist.
Her research line, Evolutionary Design of Genome Engineering Tools Based on RNA-Guided Transposons, focuses on the evolutionary design of genome engineering tools based on RNA-guided transposons. By investigating and characterizing the mechanisms of RNA-guided transposition, her team aims to develop universal strategies for precise gene insertion through the integration of molecular biology, molecular evolution, and protein design.
Research line 1: Biosensors for Personalized Medicine
Exploring the diversity, biology and mechanisms of RNA-guided DNA transposition systems.
Research line 2: Engineering programmable genome insertion tools via molecular evolution
Developing synthetic systems for targeted gene integration using ancestral sequence reconstruction and protein engineering.
She co-supervises the PhD theses of Sara Samperio and Gorka Arribas.
Awards & recognitions
Ikerbasque Research Fellow (2025), Postdoctoral Junior Leader Fellowship – Retaining (La Caixa) (2025), José Castillejo Fellow (2024), EMBO Scientific Exchange Grant (2023), Postdoctoral Juan de la Cierva Fellow (2023), Research and Training Grant (FEMS) (2020), FPU Pre-doctoral Fellow (2017), BBVA Foundation–SEBBM Young Research Award (2023), Granada Academy of Sciences Award (2021). Extraordinary PhD Award from the University of Granada (2025).
Collaborations
Prof. Chase L. Beisel (Botnar Institute of Immune Engineering (BIIE), Switzerland), Prof. Emma Master (Aalto University, Finland), Dr. Francisco Villaplana (KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden), Dr. Moreno-Mateos (CSIC, Spain).
Personal and group social networks
Latest Publications
2024
The current lines of research of the Synthetic Biology laboratory have a strong translational component, focusing on the study and design of enzymes for their application in both biotechnology and human health. The group studies enzymes that interact with biopolymers such as DNA, RNA, cellulose, and chitin, developing tools based on molecular evolution and structural design. The group has created enzymes and biopolymers with unique properties for industrial biotechnology applications, including biomass conversion, new biomaterials, CRISPR gene editing, DNA synthesis and transformation.
The main research objective of the laboratory could be summarized in the design of custom non-natural biological systems with multiple applications for the benefit of society.
Research line 1: Designing of novel enzymes using molecular evolution and structural design
In our group we have developed ancestral sequence reconstructions as the basis for designing new proteins with new and enhanced properties for biotechnological applications.
Research line 2: Gene editing
In our group we create novel CRISPR-Cas system with properties not present in current system such as Cas9. Our enzymes have properties such as PAMless activity, substrate promiscuity or dual activity. We test our enzymes both in cell lines and animal models such as mice.
Research line 3: Designing of novel biomaterials using enzymatic upgrading
We develop enzymes capable of transforming natural resources such as cellulose and chitin into high-tech materials for application in microelectronics.
Research line 4: Mechanobiology
Understanding the role of mechanical forces in biological systems.
Collaborations
Our group have maintained and maintains collaborations with national and international groups including several research labs at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), University of Granada, Harvard University, University of Toronto, Aalto University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Helmholtz Institute, among others.
-
Group Leader
Raúl Pérez-Jiménez
Ikerbasque Research Professor POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER -
Jose Alberto Urbano Gamez
-
Carlos David Ordoñez Cencerrado
-
Agustín Javier Marín Peña
TECHNICIANS / DOCTORAL CANDIDATES -
Martín Trujillo Pérez
-
Gorka Arribas Langara
-
Irati Mitxelena Balerdi
Fundación Tatiana Pérez de Guzmán el Bueno Predoctoral Fellow -
Maria del Carmen Villoslada Hidalgo
Members
Latest Publications
Carbohydrate-binding domain CBM63 of microbial expansin-like BsEXLX1 facilitates the adsorption of expansin-related proteins to hemicelluloses in plant secondary cell walls
Sivan, P; Dahiya, D; Jabalera, Y; Koitto, T; Perez-Jimenez, R; Mellerowicz, EJ; Master, E; Vilaplana, F;
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
2025-07-09
Impact of loosenins on the enzymatic preparation of cellulose nanocrystals
Jabalera, Y; Dahiya, D; Cencerrado, CDO; Caballero, AJ; Zaldua, N; Eceiza, A; Master, ER; Perez-Jimenez, R;
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
2025-06-01
Growing Hybrid Cuticles: Metallochitins as an Emerging Family of Bioactive Mimics of Chitin
Ashurbekova, K; Alonso-Lerma, B; Ashurbekova, K; Muriqi, A; Barandiaran, L; Jankovic, IS; Modin, E; Santos, JI; Perez-Jimenez, R; Petravic, M; Nolan, M; Knez, M;
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
2025-01-31
Ancient and versatile CRISPR-Cas nuclease created with ancestral sequence reconstruction
Jabalera, Y; Perez-Jimenez, R;
NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY
2024-11-05
A resurrected ancestor of Cas12a expands target access and substrate recognition for nucleic acid editing and detection
Jabalera, Y; Tascon, I; Samperio, S; Lopez-Alonso, JP; Gonzalez-Lopez, M; Aransay, AM; Abascal-Palacios, G; Beisel, CL; Ubarretxena-Belandia, I; Perez-Jimenez, R;
NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY
2024-10-31
The strongest protein binder is surprisingly labile
Fernandez-Calvo, A; Reifs, A; Saa, L; Cortajarena, AL; De Sancho, D; Perez-Jimenez, R;
PROTEIN SCIENCE
2024-07-01
High-throughput virtual search of small molecules for controlling the mechanical stability of human CD4
Reifs, A; Fernandez-Calvo, A; Alonso-Lerma, B; Schönfelder, J; Franco, D; Ortega-Muñoz, M; Casares, S; Jimenez-Lopez, C; Saa, L; Cortajarena, AL; De Sancho, D; San Sebastian, E; Perez-Jimenez, ...
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
2024-03-01
Compliant mechanical response of the ultrafast folding protein EnHD under force
Reifs, A; Ortiz, IR; Saa, AO; Schönfelder, J; De Sancho, D; Muñoz, V; Perez-Jimenez, R;
COMMUNICATIONS PHYSICS
2023-01-12