Diana Rubalcava-Gracia
About me
Diana Rubalcava Gracia Medrano, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (UNAM, Mexico) with over 14 years of experience investigating mitochondrial biogenesis. Her research focuses on the complex networks regulating mitochondrial DNA gene expression and the biochemical foundations of mitochondrial disorders. Previously a postdoctoral researcher at the Karolinska Institutet, she specialized in the in vivo role of mitochondrial RNA-binding proteins and their impact on mammalian metabolism.
Dr. Diana Rubalcava Gracia Medrano is a distinguished scientist specialising in molecular metabolism and mitochondrial biology. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). Throughout her career, she has dedicated over 14 years to uncovering the fundamental mechanisms of mitochondrial biogenesis and gene expression.
<strong>Academic Background and Training</strong>
Dr. Rubalcava Gracia Medrano earned her BS in Basic Biomedical Research and her PhD in Biomedical Sciences from UNAM. She furthered her expertise during a six-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden (2019–2025), where she focused on the characterization of mammalian mitochondrial RNA-binding proteins, specifically the LRPPRC/SLIRP complex. Her early training included research stays at the Université de Liege in Belgium and within various departments at the Instituto de Fisiología Celular.
<strong>Research Contributions and Expertise</strong>
Her research portfolio addresses critical questions in mitochondrial regulation using diverse models, from yeast to transgenic mice:
- Mitochondrial Gene Expression: She characterized the LRPPRC-SLIRP complex in vivo, demonstrating its synergistic role in maintaining mammalian mitochondrial mRNA stability and translation.
- Allotopic Expression: Her work identified high hydrophobicity as a primary barrier to relocating mitochondrial genes to the nucleus, establishing a theoretical framework for potential gene therapies for mitochondrial syndromes.
- Systemic Metabolism: In collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, she explored how mitochondrial dysfunction impacts whole-organism physiology, including findings that pharmacological inhibition of mitochondrial transcription can reverse diet-induced obesity.
- Biochemical Foundations: Her research provides the necessary biochemical framework to help clinicians interpret pathogenic mutations and diagnose mitochondrial disorders.
<strong>Honors</strong>
An active member of the Biochemical Society and the Mexican Biochemistry Society, Dr. Rubalcava Gracia Medrano has received prestigious awards, including the Nature Travel Grant. Her publication record includes work in journals such as Nucleic Acids Research, Molecular Cell, and Nature Metabolism.
Complete List of Published Work in ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4615-7375
Degrees:
Cell Death & Disease 16: 693. 2025.