Irene Diaz Moreno

Irene Diaz Moreno is a distinguished Professor in the Department of Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Seville, holding joint appointments in both the Faculty of Biology and Faculty of Medicine. With a prolific research career spanning over two decades, she has established herself as a leading expert in cytochrome c research, structural proteomics, and programmed cell death mechanisms.

Her research interests focus on the multifaceted roles of cytochrome c beyond its classical function in mitochondrial respiration. Dr. Diaz Moreno investigates how this protein regulates nuclear processes, DNA damage response, and programmed cell death through interactions with histone chaperones, RNA binding proteins, and other molecular partners. Her work particularly examines how post-translational modifications, especially phosphorylation, alter cytochrome c's structure, dynamics, and functions, revealing its dual role as both a pro-death and pro-survival factor depending on cellular context.

Through sophisticated biophysical approaches including NMR, X-ray crystallography, and computational methods, her laboratory has uncovered novel mechanisms by which cytochrome c functions as a master regulator in cellular homeostasis. Recent work has expanded to studying protein-RNA interactions, stress granule formation, and the role of metal ions in protein multimerization, demonstrating the breadth of her scientific contributions.

Dr. Diaz Moreno has secured substantial research funding through numerous projects, including those from the European Union (COST Actions, MOSBRI), Spanish national programs (BFU, PGC), and regional Andalusian initiatives (P11, P08). Her leadership as Principal Investigator on multiple projects highlights her significant standing in the scientific community.

Her laboratory, part of the Structural and Functional Proteomics research group (PROTEO), maintains active collaborations with international institutions across Europe and beyond. She has mentored numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers who have become co-authors on her extensive publication record, contributing to the vibrant research environment she has cultivated at the University of Seville.