Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering   Research lines   1.   Molecular Biology of Plants.Molecular genetics of different aspects of plant metabolism. (Approved by the Department/Scientific Council in 1993).   2.   Molecular Biology of Bacteria. Xanthomonas campestris is a phytopathogenic bacterium that causes diseases in numerous plant species. It is also a producer of an exopolysaccharide, xanthan gum, which is used in the food and industrial sectors as a thickening agent. Projects under development in the area of ​​molecular biology aim at the cloning and characterization of genes involved in pathogenicity, the production of exopolysaccharide and the taxonomy of the species. (Approved by the Department/Scientific Council in 1988).   3.   Genetic and molecular analysis through molecular markers.Genetic and molecular analysis of plants using molecular markers aimed at mapping genes of agronomic importance in corn, studying the genetic variability of tropical materials, and also studying the correlation of genetic distances between lines and the productivity of maize hybrids. (Approved by the Department/Scientific Council in 1994).   4.   Molecular Biology of Baculovirus.Use of molecular markers in the characterization of genotypic variants of baculovirus obtained from different geographical and temporal isolates of the virus. The study aims to correlate the molecular polymorphism found in variable regions of the genome having a genetic regulation function with the determination of virulence and specificity of the pathogen. (Approved by the Department/Scientific Council in 1980).   5.   Regulation of the expression of genes involved in the metabolism of amino acids and the synthesis of reserve proteins in plants.Seeds accumulate specific proteins as nitrogen reserves that are synthesized during seed development. These proteins are specific to the endosperm and the genes that encode them are under the control of a complex temporal and spatial program. In turn, the synthesis of these proteins depends on the availability of an adequate pool of amino acids, which in turn depends on the expression of genes that encode specific enzymes involved in amino acid metabolism. The research group studies several points of this coordinated regulation, seeking to establish a general mechanism for regulating gene expression in plants. (Approved by the Department/Scientific Council in 1977).   6.   Genetic-evolutionary aspects in muscoid dipterans of medical-veterinary importance. The genetic characterization of the fly that causes myasis will make available information that will enable control of the disease, with a clear and important economic impact on livestock and public health in the country. (Approved by the Department/Scientific Council in 1992).   7.   Characterization of gene changes related to 21-hydroxylase deficiency.Understanding the molecular bases of gene changes can provide highly useful elements in combating various pathologies. In particular, this line of research aims to understand the basis of 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency in humans. (Approved by the Department/Scientific Council in 1993).   8.   Metal tolerance mechanisms in Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Thiobacillus ferrooxidans is a non-pathogenic and chemolithotrophic bacterium. In recent years, physiological and biochemical studies regarding this species have been intensified due to the fact that T. ferrooxidans is the main microorganism responsible for the bacterial leaching of metals. The present work aims to characterize the genetic and molecular mechanisms responsible for resistance to high concentrations of metals in T. ferrooxidans. (Approved by the Department/Scientific Council in 1995).   9.   Resistance to stress in plants.Plant resistance to environmental stresses such as drought and toxicity caused by toxic metals is of fundamental importance for Brazilian agriculture. The research group is involved in the identification and isolation of genes that confer resistance to aluminum, as well as in the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms involved in the process. (Approved by the Department/Scientific Council in 1995).   10   Protein structure.Crystallographic studies of proteins involved in the regulation of gene expression in plants. (Approved by the Department/Scientific Council in 1995).   11   Sequencing of the Xylella fastidiosa genome. Determination of the Xylella fastidiosa genome. (Approved by the Department/Scientific Council in 1998).   12   Sugarcane genome project. Sugarcane genome project (Approved by the Department/Scientific Council in 1999).