Alkorta Calvo, Itziar

Biography

Dr. Itziar Alkorta is PhD in Chemistry (University of the Basque Country 1994) and she completed Post-Doctoral research at University of California at Berkeley. Currently Dr. Alkorta is Biochemistry Associate Professor at the University of the Basque Country where she teaches and does research. She has focused her research on the study of the molecular mechanisms of bacterial conjugation. In particular her research team is interested on the study of the interdomain relations in conjugative coupling proteins as a way of controlling antibiotic resistance spread among bacteria.   Publications Adaptive long-term monitoring of soil health in metal phytostabilization: ecological attributes and ecosystem services based on soil microbial parameters. L. Epelde, J.M. Becerril, I. Alkorta and C. Garbisu. Int J Phytoremediation. 16, 971-981 (2014). Subcellular location of the coupling protein TrwB and the role of its transmembrane domain. R.L. Segura, S. Águila-Arcos, A.J. Vecino, F. de la Cruz, F.M. Goñi, and I. Alkorta. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1838, 223-230 (2014). Double-tailed lipid modification as a promising candidate for oligonucleotide delivery in mammalian cells. B. Ugarte-Uribe, S. Grijalvo, J.V. Busto, C. Martín, R. Eritja, F.M. Goñi, and I. Alkorta Biochim. Biophys. Acta General Subjects 1830: 4872-4884 (2013). The transmembrane domain of the T4SS coupling protein TrwB and its role in protein-protein interactions. R.L. Segura, S. Aguila-Arcos, B. Ugarte-Uribe, A.J. Vecino,F. de la Cruz, F.M. Goñi and I. Alkorta. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1828, 2015-2025 (2013). Deletion of a single helix from the transmembrane domain causes large changes in membrane insertion properties and secondary structure of the bacterial conjugation protein TrwB A.J. Vecino, R. de L. Segura, I. de la Arada, F. de la Cruz, F.M. Goñi, J.L. Arrondo and I. Alkorta. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1818, 3158-3166 (2012). Membrane insertion stabilizes the structure of TrwB, the R388 conjugative plasmid coupling protein. A.J. Vecino, I. de la Arada, R.L. Segura, F.M. Goñi, F. de Cruz, J.L. R. Arrondo and I. Alkorta. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1808, 1032-1039 (2011).

Research Interest

 NanoBiotechnology  Project_Management  Nanomedicine