Ana Rita Seabra

Ana Rita Seabra is a Post-Doctoral Researcher at CIBIO-InBIO, University of Porto, Portugal. She works on nitrogen metabolism in plants, particularly focusing on legumes, and explores how post-translational modifications like S-nitrosation regulate key enzymes such as glutamine synthetase (GS). Her research aims to improve sustainable agricultural practices through innovative plant breeding technologies.

Education:

• BSc in Biochemistry (Applied Biochemistry), 2004, University of Porto
• PhD in Biology, 2012, University of Porto (thesis on GS isoenzymes in Medicago truncatula at IBMC-Porto)

Research Focus:

• Differential regulation of GS isoenzymes by nitric oxide (NO)-derived modifications
• Molecular mechanisms of S-nitrosation in plastid-located GS enzymes
• Role of GS in nitrogen fixation and plant defense responses
• Structural analysis of GS active sites via X-ray crystallography and mutagenesis

Publications Trends:

• Investigates NO signaling in plant metabolism, linking enzymatic regulation to physiological outcomes
• Elucidates cysteine residues' functional roles in GS activity using mass spectrometry and site-directed mutagenesis
• Examines interactions between nitrogen assimilation and oxidative stress responses

Supervision:

• Co-supervised Anette Garrido's MSc thesis on GS signaling proteins in Medicago truncatula (2019)