Dr. Enriquez’s research activity has focused on the study of mammalian mitochondrial electron transport chain (MtETC) and H+ -ATP synthase, which constitute the oxidative phosphorylation system (OxPhos). For more than 30 years, the research work led by Dr. Enríquez has provided a scientific contribution of the utmost relevance in the following specific areas of his research lines:
• Functional consequences of the genetic variability of the mtDNA, with the most outstanding work being the demonstrate in human and mouse that the population variability of mtDNA conditions the metabolism of the organism, its response to drugs, predisposition to diseases, to healthy aging, and help explain the borderline pathology and functional variability for mtDNA alterations. Together, his contributions highlight the role of mitochondrial ROS in the adaptation of the OxPhos system to the metabolic requirements of the cell.
• Development of new structural organization models of the electronic mitochondrial transport. Based on the observations and methodology developed by Dr. Schägger, the works of Dr. Enriquez revolutionize the understanding of the structure and function of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, giving rise to the proposal of the «Plasticity Model» to explain the dynamic organization of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. On the one hand, this model and the work from which it is derived, explain the functional value of associations of respiratory complexes in superstructures, describes the first protein factor genuinely required for the physical interaction between complexes. Demonstrates the dynamic organization of the respiratory chain to optimize the use of different carbon sources and provides the experimental test of the proposed plasticity model. His research allowed to connect mitochondrial dynamics with bioenergetic function. Likewise, in the context of the plasticity model, it has been possible to explain the determinant role of the structural isoforms of the IV complex of the mitochondrial electron transport chain in its homodimerization capacity and in its capacity to interact with other complexes.
• The role of OxPhos in metabolic adaptation with key advance in the understanding of, inducing structural changes in the electronic transport chain. Unexpectedly, these adaptations are especially relevant in cardiovascular pathology and the immune system.