Selected publications


p38γ is essential for cell cycle progression and liver tumorigenesis

Authors: Antonia Tomás-Loba, Elisa Manieri, Bárbara González-Terán, Alfonso Mora, Luis Leiva-Vega, Ayelén M. Santamans, Rafael Romero-Becerra, Elena Rodríguez, Aránzazu Pintor-Chocano, Ferran Feixas, Juan Antonio López, Beatriz Caballero, Marianna Trakala, Óscar Blanco, Jorge L. Torres, Lourdes Hernández-Cosido, Valle Montalvo-Romeral, Nuria Matesanz, Marta Roche-Molina, Juan Antonio Bernal, Hannah Mischo, Marta León, Ainoa Caballero, Diego Miranda-Saavedra, Jesús Ruiz-Cabello, Yulia A. Nevzorova, Francisco Javier Cubero, Jerónimo Bravo, Jesús Vázquez, Marcos Malumbres, Miguel Marcos, Sílvia Osuna, Guadalupe Sabio

Journal: Nature , Vol. 568 , Num. 7753 , pp. 557-560

Date: 2019-4

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1112-8

  • Ferran Feixas (1983) obtained his PhD in Chemistry with academic honors at the University of Girona under the supervision of Prof. Miquel Sola?, Prof. Jordi Poater, and Dr. Eduard Matito. In this period, he carried out research stays in France, Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland. Upon graduation, he moved to the University of California, San Diego (USA), for a two-year postdoctoral position with a Beatriu de Pino?s fellowship at the Prof. J. Andrew McCammon group. In 2014, he joined the IQCC with a reintegration Beatriu de Pino?s fellowship and, in 2015, was awarded with the Marie Curie Individual Fellowship (IF-EF, MetAccembly). In 2019, he was awarded a three-year Retos Investigación project (RTI2018-101032-J-I00) for developing and applying novel simulation based techniques with applications in the field of biochemistry and supramolecular chemistry (Accembly). In 2019, thanks to the EU and MICINN contribution (MetAccembly IF-EF and RTI2018), he initiated his independent career as Principal Investigator at the IQCC (UdG). He has co-authored 44 publications in international journals.

  • (Bio)molecular recognition and assembly are key concepts in biochemistry, drug design, and supramolecular chemistry. Chemical and life processes are critically dependent on the association and dissociation of (bio)molecules. The pathways that drive recognition, assembly, and dissociation are strongly influenced by the dynamic nature of the interacting partners. A deep understanding of the mechanisms of these relevant processes is of utmost importance. The goal of our group is to develop and apply computational tools to unravel the details of association and dissociation pathways of (bio)molecules to gain insight into the detailed molecular mechanisms of relevant chemical and biomedical processes and, then, harness this information to enhance the discovery and rational design of novel drugs, protein assemblies, supramolecular complexes, and/or (bio)catalysts.
    We focus on the development and application of enhanced sampling methods for the study of molecular recognition, assembly and catalysis.
    – Drug Design: Reconstruction of drug binding and unbinding pathways.
    – Enzymes Catalysis / Enzyme Design: molecular basis of enzyme catalysis, allosteric regulation, and enzyme evolution and engineering.
    – Supramolecular Chemistry: dynamic reconstruction of molecular recognition in supramolecular complexes (nanohosts and cavitands)
    – Photopharmacology: deciphering the molecular basis of allosteric photoswitches in G-Protein Coupled Receptors.

  • Principal Investigator

    • Ferran Feixas

      RyC

    PhD and MACMoM students

    • Clara Sabrià

      PhD Student (IF-UdG)

      Supervisor
      - F. Feixas, X. Ribas
    • Itzel Muro

      PhD Student

      Supervisor
      - M. Garcia-Borràs, F. Feixas
    • Raúl Lago-Saavedra

      PhD Student (IF-UdG)

      Supervisor
      - F. Feixas, M. Garcia-Borràs
    • Aqza Elza John

      PhD Student (FPI)

      Supervisor
      - F. Feixas, M. Garcia-Borràs
    • Helena Giramé

      PhD Student (FI)

      Supervisor
      - M. García-Borràs, F. Feixas
    • Cristina Berga

      PhD Student (IF-UdG)

      Supervisor
      - M. García-Borràs, F. Feixas, S. Simon
    • Hande Abes

      PhD Student (FI)

      Supervisor
      - F. Feixas, M. García-Borras

  • Consolidación Investigadora

    Project: Hacia la reconstruccion computacional de la evolucion en tiempo real de procesos biomoleculares y supramoleculares
    Researcher: Dr. Ferran Feixas
    Reference: CNS2025-165326
    Funding: 192.390 €
    Period: 01/04/2026 – 31/03/2028

    Collaboration agreement

    Project: Fundació Institut Jaume Vicens Vives de Girona
    Researcher: Ferran Feixas
    Reference:
    Funding: 38.400 €
    Period: 01/01/2023 – 31/12/2027

    Ramón y Cajal

    Project: Programa Ramón y Cajal
    Researcher: Dr. Ferran Feixas
    Reference: RYC2020-029552-I
    Funding: 324250
    Period: 01/03/2022 – 28/02/2027

    MICIU Proyectos I+D

    Project: Modelado Computacional Integrativo de Procesos Bioquímicos y Biocatalíticos: Desde la Comprensión hasta el Diseño
    Researcher: Dr. Marc Garcia-Borràs and Dr. Ferran Feixas
    Reference: PID2022-141676NB-I00
    Funding: 168.750 €
    Period: 01/09/2023 – 30/06/2027

  • Project: CSCS National Call
    Researcher: Dr. Ferran Feixas, Dr. Marc Garcia-Borràs
    Reference: COVID19-27
    Funding:
    Period: 01/04/2020 – 31/07/2020
    Project: Unraveling the Graded Millisecond Allosteric Activation of Imidazole Glycerol Phosphate Synthase
    Researcher: Ferran Feixas
    Reference: BSC-2021-2
    Funding: 60000
    Period: –
    Project: Unraveling the Graded Millisecond Allosteric Activation of Imidazole Glycerol Phosphate
    Researcher: Ferran Feixas
    Reference: BSC-2021-1
    Funding: 115200
    Period: 01/03/2025 – 30/06/2025
    Project: Unraveling the molecular basis of inhibitor selectivity in p38 kinases
    Researcher: Ferran Feixas
    Reference: BSC-2020-2
    Funding: 115200
    Period: 01/11/2021 – 28/02/2022
    Project: Unraveling the dynamics of nitrogenase: aerobic conformational protection and preorganization for electron transfer
    Researcher: Ferran Feixas
    Reference: BSC/MT-2019-2
    Funding: 57600
    Period: 01/03/2025 – 30/06/2025
    Project: Unraveling the dynamics of nitrogenase: aerobic conformational protection and preorganization for electron transfer
    Researcher: Ferran Feixas
    Reference: BCV-2017-2-0015
    Funding: 30
    Period: –
    Project: Simulating ligand binding and unbinding with accelerated molecular dynamics
    Researcher: Ferran Feixas
    Reference: QCM-2017-3-0045
    Funding: 40
    Period: 01/03/2012 – 30/06/2012
    Project: Simulating ligand binding and unbinding with accelerated molecular dynamics
    Researcher: Ferran Feixas
    Reference: QCM-2017-2-0028
    Funding: 57.60
    Period: 01/03/2012 – 30/06/2012
    Project: The molecular basis of R513 arginine recognition and methylation in cardiac conduction disease
    Researcher: Ferran Feixas
    Reference: BCV-2016-3-0011
    Funding: 57.60
    Period: –
    Project: Unraveling the molecular basis of inhibitor selectivity in p38 kinases
    Researcher: Ferran Feixas
    Reference: BCV-2019-3-0016
    Funding: 115200
    Period: –
    Project: Diseño y caracterización computacional de fotoelectro-biocatalisis heterogenea soportada por fotoelectrodos
    Researcher: Dr. Ferran Feixas and Dr. Marc Garcia-Borràs
    Reference: TED2021-130173B-C42
    Funding: 125.350 €
    Period: 01/12/2022 – 30/09/2025
    Project: Aceleración de los procesos (bio)moleculares de reconocimiento y ensamblaje molecular con métodos computacionales
    Researcher: Dr. Ferran Feixas
    Reference: RTI2018-101032-J-I00
    Funding: 153.791 €
    Period: 01/10/2019 – 20/09/2022
    Project: Accelerating metal-directed assembly, recognition and catalysis with computational methods (mETaCCEMBLY)
    Researcher: Dr. Ferran Feixas (M. Swart)
    Reference: H2020-MSCA-IF-2014-661160
    Funding: 158.121 €
    Period: 01/05/2015 – 30/04/2017

  • No collaborators found.

  • IQCC Science Slam 2026, September 29th 12:30h
    Since 2015 the IQCC is organizing a Science Slam. On Tuesday September 29th the IQCC organizes the XI edition IQCC Science...
    PhD defense Clara Sabrià Figueras
    On 24th of September will be the defense of the doctoral thesis of Clara Sabrià Figueras, titled “Elucidating PhD defense...
    IQCC Forum: Spring edition 2026
    Last 7th May took place the Spring edition of the IQCC Forum, a quarterly meeting-place where high-quality science will be IQCC Forum:...
    European Researchers’ Night 2025 at IQCC
    Every year in September since 2008, the IQCC is organizing together with the Scientific Culture and Digital Communication European Researchers’...