M. Sc. Diana Mollocana Yanez

My research interests focus on the functional characterization of proteins, particularly lipocalins, using computational and in vitro approaches. I investigate molecular interactions through both computational and experimental methods. A major focus of my research involves metabolic studies in mouse models combined with molecular analyses to determine protein function. Currently, I am particularly interested in mouse Major Urinary Proteins (MUPs) and their role in lipid transport and lipid metabolism. In addition, I work on the development and establishment of Microscale Thermophoresis (MST) protocols for the study of protein–ligand interactions. In the long term, my research aims to contribute to a better understanding of metabolic diseases such as fatty liver disease, diabetes, and obesity, which are influenced by the interplay between diet, sex, and genotype.

M.Sc. Diana Mollocana Yanez

Mollocana, D. (2024). Figure.1. Primary and quaternary structures of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Verwendet in Kapitel 3 (Structural and functional properties of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein: Potential vaccine and drug development for COVID-19, by Berkowitz, R.& Ostrov, D.), Seite 58. Understandig the Pandemic. Pathophysiology, Transmission, and Treatment of COVID-19. Von Marco Cascella. ISBN: 9780443290046, 0443290040. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-19170-1.00013-9

Leon, B., Montero-Oleas, A., Mollocana, D., Calderon, D., Torres, M.L. (2022). Optical aptasensor for in situ detection and quantification of methylxanthines in Ilex guayusa. ACI: Avances en Ciencias e Ingenieria. 14 (1):2301. https://doi.org/10.18272/aci.v14i1.2301

Mollocana, D. (2021). Figure 17.3: SARS-CoV2 Spike Glycoprotein Structure. Verwendet in Kapitel 17 (Directed Therapies to Nucleic Acids and Cytoplasmic RNA, by Ghose, M.), Seite 455. Organelle and Molecular Targeting. Von Lara Scheherezade Milane und Mansoor M. Amiji. CRC. ISBN: 9780367551377. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003092773-19

Mollocana, D., Erazo, M.P., Aguirre, X. Torres, M.L. (2019). Molecular characterization of Moniliophthora roreri, causative agent of moniliasis in cocoa in three provinces of Ecuador: Los Rios, Manabi and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. MOL2NET 2019, International Conference on Multidisciplinary Sciences, 5th edition. https://doi.org/10.3390/mol2net-05-06382

Burgos, G., Yanqui-Rivera, F., Mollocana, D., Camargo, M., Zapata, S. (2017). Multiplex PCR in non-human DNA molecular identification of Ascaris spp. In forensic biology. Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series 6, e568-e569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigss.2017.09.227

Aguilera-Pesantes, D., Robayo, L.E., Méndez, P.E., Mollocana, D., Marrero-Ponce, Y., Torres, F.J., Méndez, M.A. (2017). Discovering key residues of dengue virus NS2b-NS3-protease: New binding sites for antiviral inhibitors design. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 492(4):631-642.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.03.107