Melatonin and serotonin are molecules that have signaling functions in both animals and plants. In this study, the fruits of the California-type sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L) are used as an experimental model, for which information is available at a genomic and transcriptomic level, to identify the genes involved in melatonin biosynthesis and explore how they are modulated during ripening. To do this, bioinformatic analyses will be used to search for genes with the same function in other plant species. The information obtained will make it possible to establish the genetic bases of how melatonin performs its signaling and antioxidant functions in what is one of the most widely consumed horticultural fruits worldwide. It is also therefore of great economic importance, particularly in southeast Spain where it is widely cultivated. 

Keywords: melatonin, pepper, bioinformatic, genes, antioxidants 

Directed by: Francisco Javier Corpas Aguirre 

By studying existing variations in the genome between individuals and populations (genotyping), personalized medicine allows us to prescribe, adjust and/or withdraw a specific drug for a disease that a

particular patient is suffering. This should cause the patient to respond appropriately and improve their quality of life. In recent decades, the number of patients suffering from autoimmune diseases has increased. These are a varied group of diseases that share a common characteristic, namely that they cause the patient’s immune system to produce antibodies, which act erroneously against their cells and tissues.

One of the main drugs used to treat this type of disease is azathioprine (an immunosuppressive drug). Its metabolism involves an enzyme known as thiopurine methyl transferase (TPMT). The gene encoding this enzyme has been shown to be associated with patient response to azathioprine.

Different pharmacogenetic guides make different recommendations depending on the patient’s genetic characteristics. These include, for example, increasing or decreasing the dose depending on the variations that may appear in the gene encoding TPMT. Conducting a genetic study prior to taking azathioprine can therefore help adjust the dose according to the TPMT activity of each patient, thus reducing the occurrence of adverse reactions.

The aim of this study is to assess the degree of implementation of this genetic test in routine clinical practice in our population, and to study the differences in this gene between our population and other reference populations.

Keywords: pharmacogenetics, azathioprine, systemic diseases

Directed by: Emilio Fernández Varón