ATLab | Universidad de O'Higgins

Alternative Splicing Networks

Unraveling the regulatory networks that control alternative splicing under environmental stress.

Stress Response Models

Studying cold, heat, and drought responses in Arabidopsis, crops, and tree models.

Network Analysis

Graph theory and network science to model transcriptional complexity in stress responses.

Root–Soil Interactions

How plants coordinate with soil microbiota to enhance stress tolerance and nutrient uptake.

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OUR APPROACH

Our research focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which plants respond to diverse environmental stresses. Ultimately, we aim to leverage these insights to strategically manipulate target genes, advancing biotechnology for applied agriculture and climate-resilient crops.

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NETWORK BIOLOGY

We use network analysis and graph theory to model the relationships between genes, transcripts, and proteins in plant stress responses.

Mapping molecular interactions as networks reveals key regulatory hubs and predicts how perturbations affect transcriptional complexity across species.

▷ SEE PUBLICATIONS

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TRANSCRIPTIONAL COMPLEXITY

Systems Biology

Integrating multi-omics data to understand how transcriptional networks respond to environmental perturbations.

Molecular Mechanisms

The biochemical basis of alternative splicing and its role in generating transcriptional diversity under stress.

Computational Biology

Algorithms and tools for analyzing high-throughput sequencing data to find novel regulatory patterns.

// PUBLICATIONS.DB

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

◈ GOOGLE SCHOLAR

2026

IsoformMapper: A Web Application for Protein-Level Comparison of Splice Variants through Structural Community Analysis

Vergara A, Hernández-Verdeja T, Ojeda-May P, Ramirez L, Edler D, Rosvall M, Strand Å et al.

RNA 32(1):1–20

2026

Comparative Genomics of Cold Temperature Responses in Boreal Tree Roots

Aro T, van Zalen E, Vergara A, Canovi C, Kumar V, Dimmen Chapple E et al.

In press · 2026

2025

The Circadian Clock of Populus Affects Physiological, Transcriptional and Metabolomic Responses to Osmotic and Ionic Components of Salt Stress

Ibáñez C, Vergara A, Castro D, Bascunan-Godoy L, Sjölander J, Jurca M et al.

npj Biological Timing and Sleep 2(1):34

2025

Arabidopsis Mutants for Mediator Head, Middle, Tail, and Kinase Modules Reveal Distinct Roles in Regulating the Transcriptional Response to Salt Stress

Karamat F, Vergara A, Blomberg J, Crawford T, Lehotai N, Rentoft M et al.

Plant Stress · 101189

2024

CDK8 of the Mediator Kinase Module Connects Leaf Development to the Establishment of Correct Stomata Patterning by Regulating the Levels of the Transcription Factor SPEECHLESS

Hermida-Carrera C, Vergara A, Cervela-Cardona L, Jin X, Björklund S et al.

Plant, Cell & Environment

2024

Growth-Regulated Co-Occupancy of Mediator and Lsm3 at Intronic Ribosomal Protein Genes

Abdel-Fattah WR, Carlsson M, Hu GZ, Singh A, Vergara A, Aslam R et al.

Nucleic Acids Research 52(11):6220–6233

2022

Norway Spruce Deploys Tissue-Specific Responses during Acclimation to Cold

Vergara A, Haas JC, Aro T, Stachula P, Street NR, Hurry V

Plant, Cell & Environment 45(2):427–445

2022

GENOMES UNCOUPLED1 Plays a Key Role during the De-etiolation Process in Arabidopsis

Hernández-Verdeja T, Vuorijoki L, Jin X, Vergara A, Dubreuil C, Strand Å

New Phytologist 235(1):188–203

▶ FULL LIST ON GOOGLE SCHOLAR

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JOIN US

We are always looking for motivated students and researchers to join the lab. If you are interested in RNA biology, plant stress, or computational biology, reach out — we would love to hear from you.

Instituto de Ciencias de la Ingeniería · Universidad de O'Higgins

Rancagua, Chile

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Adaptive Transcription Laboratory (ATLab)

Universidad de O'Higgins · Rancagua, Chile