Biotechnological Applications of Plant Proteolytic Enzymes

Dr. María G. Guevara graduated in Biology (MSc. 1996) at the University of Mar del Plata (UNMDP), Argentina. She obtained her PhD in 2003 in Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Mar del Plata including a short research stay at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra (CNC), University of Coimbra, Portugal. From 2001to 2006 she investigated the role of typical plant aspartic proteases in plant defense against pathogens, which was first research to report the bifunctional activity (proteolytic/ antimicrobial) of these enzymes. Additionally, her publications have contributed to elucidating the mechanism of action of these enzymes and their domains in vitro and during plant pathogen interactions. Gabriela Guevara is currently the leader of the Plant Proteases Laboratory at the Biological Research Institute (IIB) of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) and University of Mar del Plata. Her research activities are mainly focused on proteolytic enzymes in both basic and applied research in biotechnology, in areas as diverse as health, plant biology and food applications.

Dr. Gustavo R. Daleo joined the IIB in 1985, as head of the Plant Biochemistry Laboratory. He is a professor of Biochemistry at the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, National University of Mar del Plata. Professor Daleo received his Licenciado degree and his PhD in Chemical Sciences from the Buenos Aires University in 1976. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Biology Department, Bariloche Foundation (1976-1977) and at the Department of Biochemistry, Michigan State University (1977-1979). In 1980 he joined the University of Mar del Plata, and at the IIB, where he introduced biochemical and molecular mechanisms in plant defense against pathogens and abiotic stress as a field of study. His research group has produced several publications that contribute to the formulation of strategies for integrated crop management and to the useof plant proteins, peptides and other compounds as antimicrobial and therapeutic agents.