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Pedro Paiva graduated in Biochemistry (2012) in the University of Porto, holds a MSc degree in Biochemistry (2014) and a PhD in Sustainable Chemistry / Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics (M2B) from the same University. From 2022-2023, he was a Post-Doctoral fellow at the High Performance Computing in Molecular Modelling group of LAQV/REQUIMTE. Currently, he is a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto. His main research area is Computational Biochemistry, with a particular interest in the study of catalytic mechanisms of enzymes, using Molecular Dynamics and Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics methods.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Pedro Miguel Coelho Paiva

Citation names

  • Paiva, Pedro

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
A319-EC13-BE88
ORCID iD
0000-0002-7003-6055
Google Scholar ID
https://scholar.google.pt/citations?user=YNdZC-oAAAAJ&hl=pt-PT
Researcher Id
Q-6851-2019

Email addresses

  • pedro.paiva@fc.up.pt (Professional)

Addresses

  • Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto - Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Rua do Campo Alegre, S/N, 4169-007, Porto, Porto, Portugal (Professional)

Knowledge fields

  • Exact Sciences - Chemical Sciences
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Biochemistry

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
English Intermediate (B1) Advanced (C1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1)
Spanish; Castilian Beginner (A1) Intermediate (B1) Beginner (A1)
Education
Degree Classification
2017/11/01 - 2022/04/29
Concluded
 Sustainable Chemistry / Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics (M2B) (Doutoramento)
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal

Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal

Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
"Understanding the hFAS Enzyme - a Promising Anticancer Target" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 Aprovado por Unanimidade
2014
Concluded
 Mestrado em Bioquímica (Mestrado)
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
"O papel do córtex pré-frontal medial no processamento de working memory: estimulação optogenética local e modulação farmacológica dos recetores de dopamina D2 para a reversão de défices" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 18 valores
2012
Concluded
 Licenciatura em Bioquímica (Licenciatura)
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
"Caracterização morfológica e funcional das células endoteliais e musculares lisas do tecido cavernoso de ratazana em cultura por microscopia confocal: Papel dos recetores purinérgicos" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 16 valores
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2023/02/07 - Current Contracted Researcher (Research) Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2022/06/16 - 2023/02/06 Postdoc (Research) REQUIMTE Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2017/11/01 - 2022/04/29 PhD Student of Sustainable Chemistry / Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics (M2B) REQUIMTE LAQV Porto, Portugal
2015/12/01 - 2017/10/31 Postgraduate researcher REQUIMTE Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
2013/09/23 - 2015/09/30 Team member developing the project “Modulation of fronto-hippocampal circuit oscillations: neurophysiological and behavioral correlates” (Ref: FCT: PTDC/NEU-SCC/1516/2012) Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2011/09/20 - 2012/09/07 BSc student developing the project “Functional and morphological characterization of cultured rat cavernous tissue’s endothelial and smooth muscular cells by confocal microscopy: The role of purinergi Universidade do Porto Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Portugal
Projects

Contract

Designation Funders
2023/02/07 - Current NOVO NORDISK FONDEN's Challenge Programme 2022 - Center for enzymatic deconstruction of thermoset plastics for a sustainable society, En'Zync
0072891
Post-doc
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
 Novo Nordisk Fonden
Ongoing
2023/05/30 - 2024/11/12 Biodegrading unsatured polyesters - establishing the enzymatic catalytic mechanism of Pseudomonas sp. MIS38 lipase
2022.15579.CPCA.A2
Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI)
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2022/05/01 - 2023/04/30 Adsorption of the enzyme PETase on solid PET
petaseonpet
Post-doc
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal

REQUIMTE LAQV Porto, Portugal
Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA)
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Conference poster
  1. Paiva, Pedro; Ramos, Maria João; Fernandes, Pedro Alexandrino. "A computational study of the Fatty Acid Synthase: the catalytic mechanism of the Malonyl-Acetyl Transferase domain". Paper presented in 7th International Iberian Biophysics Congress, 2021.
  2. Fonseca, Rita Maria; Paiva, Pedro. "Study of the enzyme Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase as a step towards the development of a biological-based CO2 capture device". Paper presented in 13th Meeting of Young Researchers of the University of Porto (IJUP2020), 2020.
  3. Pereira, Ana Raquel; Paiva, Pedro; Galhardo, Vasco; Monteiro, Clara; Cardoso-Cruz, Helder. "Optogenetic neuromodulation of prefrontal-hippocampal theta connectivity reverses pain-related working-memory deficits". Paper presented in 9th i3S Annual Meeting, 2019.
  4. Faria, Joana; Paiva, Pedro; Galhardo, Vasco; Monteiro, Clara; Cardoso-Cruz, Helder. "Abnormal prefrontal-hippocampal connectivity supports pain-related working memory deficits". Paper presented in XVI Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neurosciences, 2019.
  5. Mineiro, Fábio; Paiva, Pedro. "Computational study of the PhaA enzyme, a key for the synthesis of bioplastics". Paper presented in 12th Meeting of Young Researchers of the University of Porto (IJUP2019), 2019.
  6. Faria, Joana; Paiva, Pedro; Galhardo, Vasco; Monteiro, Clara; Cardoso-Cruz, Helder. "Abnormal prefrontal-hippocampal connectivity supports pain-related working memory deficits". Paper presented in 7th i3S Annual Meeting, 2018.
  7. Laranjeira, Inês; Paiva, Pedro; Monteiro, Clara; Cardoso-Cruz, Helder; Galhardo, Vasco. "Selective optogenetic inhibition of prelimbic excitatory neurons during delay-period reverses pain-related working memory deficits". Paper presented in XV Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neurosciences, 2017.
  8. Paiva, Pedro; Sérgio Filipe Maia de Sousa (2D13-FC03-3173); Ramos, Maria João; Fernandes, Pedro Alexandrino. "A QM/MM study of human Malonyl-Acetyl Transferase". Paper presented in Dynapeutics International Summer School 2016, 2016.
  9. Paiva, Pedro; Cardoso-Cruz, Helder; Dourado, Margarida; Monteiro, Clara; Galhardo, Vasco. "Optogenetic inhibition of mPFC pyramidal population improves working memory performance in a delayed non-matching to sample task". Paper presented in XIV Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neurosciences, 2015.
  10. Dourado, Margarida; Cardoso-Cruz, Helder; Paiva, Pedro; Monteiro, Clara; Galhardo, Vasco. ""Activation of dopaminergic D2/D3 receptors reverses hippocampus-related working memory deficit induced by neuropathic pain". Paper presented in 4th Encontro de Doutorandos da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, 2014.
  11. Dourado, Margarida; Cardoso-Cruz, Helder; Paiva, Pedro; Monteiro, Clara; Galhardo, Vasco. "Activation of dopaminergic D2/D3 receptors reverses hippocampus-related working memory deficit induced by neuropathic pain". Paper presented in 4th I3S Annual Meeting, 2014.
Journal article
  1. Li Z; Han X; Cong L; Singh P; Pedro Paiva; Yannick Branson; Li W; et al. "Structure-Guided Engineering of a Versatile Urethanase Improves Its Polyurethane Depolymerization Activity.". Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) (2025): https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202416019.
    10.1002/advs.202416019
  2. Pedro Paiva; Luís Miguel Correia Teixeira; Wei Ren; Weidong Liu; Gert Weber; Jens Preben Morth; Peter Westh; et al. "Unveiling the Enzymatic Pathway of UMG-SP2 Urethanase: Insights into Polyurethane Degradation at the Atomic Level". Chemical Science (2025): http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d4sc06688j.
    10.1039/d4sc06688j
  3. Pedro Paiva; Emiliano Ippoliti; Paolo Carloni; Pedro Alexandrino Fernandes; Maria Joao Joao Ramos. "Atomistic adsorption of PETase onto large-scale PET 3D-models that mimic reality". Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (2024): http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d4cp03488k.
    10.1039/d4cp03488k
  4. Laura Rotilio; Thomas Bayer; Hannes Meinert; Luis M. C. Teixeira; Martin B. Johansen; Andreas Sommerfeldt; Allan R. Petersen; et al. "Structural and Functional Characterization of an Amidase Targeting a Polyurethane for Sustainable Recycling". Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2024): http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.202419535.
    10.1002/anie.202419535
  5. Paiva, Pedro. "Engineering of PKS Megaenzymes—A Promising Way to Biosynthesize High-Value Active Molecules". Topics in Catalysis (2021): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11244-021-01490-5.
    10.1007/s11244-021-01490-5
  6. Pedro Paiva; Fabiola E. Medina; Matilde Viegas; Pedro Ferreira; Rui P. P. Neves; João P. M. Sousa; Maria J. Ramos; Pedro A. Fernandes. "Animal Fatty Acid Synthase: A Chemical Nanofactory". Chemical Reviews (2021): https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00147.
    10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00147
  7. Jordi Soler; Pedro Paiva; Maria J. Ramos; Pedro A. Fernandes; Marie Brut. "Unraveling the cGAS catalytic mechanism upon DNA activation through molecular dynamics simulations". Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (2021): https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CP00378J.
    10.1039/D1CP00378J
  8. Pedro Paiva; Maria J. Ramos; Pedro A. Fernandes. "Assessing the validity of DLPNO-CCSD (T) in the calculation of activation and reaction energies of ubiquitous enzymatic reactions". Journal of Computational Chemistry (2020): https://doi.org/10.1002/jcc.26401.
    10.1002/jcc.26401
  9. Paiva, Pedro. "Proteínas Virais no Protein Data Bank". Revista de Ciência Elementar (2020): http://dx.doi.org/10.24927/rce2020.022.
    10.24927/rce2020.022
  10. Paiva, Pedro. "Bidirectional optogenetic modulation of prefrontal-hippocampal connectivity in pain-related working memory deficits". Scientific Reports (2019): http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-47555-0.
    10.1038/s41598-019-47555-0
  11. Paiva, Pedro. "Human Fatty Acid Synthase: A Computational Study of the Transfer of the Acyl Moieties from MAT to the ACP Domain". ChemCatChem (2019): http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cctc.201900548.
    10.1002/cctc.201900548
  12. Paiva, Pedro. "Benchmark of Density Functionals for the Calculation of the Redox Potential of Fe3+/Fe2+ Within Protein Coordination Shells". Frontiers in Chemistry (2019): http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2019.00391.
    10.3389/fchem.2019.00391
  13. Paiva, Pedro. "Selective optogenetic inhibition of medial prefrontal glutamatergic neurons reverses working memory deficits induced by neuropathic pain". PAIN (2019): http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001457.
    10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001457
  14. Paiva, Pedro. "Cover Image, Volume 118, Issue 9". International Journal of Quantum Chemistry 118 9 (2018): e25633-e25633. https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fqua.25633.
    10.1002/qua.25633
  15. Paiva, Pedro; Costa Inês, P. D.; Ferreira Cleide, E.; Ferreira, Pedro; Pereira Andreia, T.; Cerqueira Nuno, M. F. S. A.; Fernandes Pedro, A.; Ramos Maria, J.. "Studies on neuraminidase inhibition". International Journal of Quantum Chemistry 118 9 (2018): e25592-e25592. http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=ORCID&SrcApp=OrcidOrg&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=WOS:000428413300014&KeyUID=WOS:000428413300014.
    10.1002/qua.25592
  16. Paiva, Pedro; Sousa, Sérgio F.; Ramos, Maria J.; Fernandes, Pedro A.. "Understanding the Catalytic Machinery and the Reaction Pathway of the Malonyl-Acetyl Transferase Domain of Human Fatty Acid Synthase". ACS Catalysis (2018): 4860-4872. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.8b00577.
    10.1021/acscatal.8b00577
Preprint
  1. Pedro Paiva; Luís M. C. Teixeira; Ren Wei; Weidong Liu; Jens P. Morth; Peter Westh; Allan R. Petersen; et al. "The Catalytic Mechanism of the Plastic-Degrading Enzyme Urethanase UMG-SP2". 2024. https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv-2024-rwq71.
    10.26434/chemrxiv-2024-rwq71
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. Paiva, Pedro. "The role of medial prefrontal cortex in working memory: local optogenetic stimulation and pharmacological modulation of dopamine D2 receptors in the reversal of impairments". Master, Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, 2014. https://hdl.handle.net/10216/86977.
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2018/11 Understanding the Catalytic Machinery of the Malonyl-Acetyl Transferase Domain of Human Fatty Acid Synthase International Conference on Catalysis Science, Engineering & Technology
International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM) (Estocolmo, Sweden)
2016/02 Neuraminidase: a quest for new inhibitors 9th Meeting of Young Researchers of the University of Porto (IJUP2016)
University of Porto (Porto, Portugal)

Mentoring / Tutoring

Topic Student name
2023/02 - Current Studies for degradation of polyurethanes João Lucas Duarte Mendes
2022/09 - Current Biodegradation of PET plastic Francisca da Rocha Andrade
2022/07 - 2022/11 Reaction mechanism of Polyester Hydrolase (PE-H) investigated using molecular simulations Samah Nassir
2019/10/01 - 2020/11/10 Understanding Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase catalysis as a step to the engineering of a CO2 capture device Rita Maria Bolota Velho Pires da Fonseca
2018/11/01 - 2019/09/06 Optimizing the Production Of Bioplastics: A Computational Study of the Catalytic Mechanism of Pha A of Zooglea Ramigera Fábio Domingos Dias Mineiro
2019/03 - 2019/07 Unravelling how cGAS catalyze 2’,3’-cGAMP after DNA activation. An MD and QM/MM approach Jordi Soler i Parpal
Distinctions

Other distinction

2023 Review Editor of the journal "Frontiers in Chemistry"
2018 Journal Cover in the International Journal of Quantum Chemistry, "Studies on neuraminidase inhibition"