A5008409588- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Proteins in Food Systems
- Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Enzyme Structure and Function
- Material Dynamics and Properties
- Protein Interaction Studies and Fluorescence Analysis
- Polysaccharides Composition and Applications
- Protease and Inhibitor Mechanisms
- Prion Diseases and Protein Misfolding
- Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications
- Heat shock proteins research
- Signaling Pathways in Disease
- Molecular spectroscopy and chirality
- Computational Drug Discovery Methods
- Protein purification and stability
- Extracellular vesicles in disease
- Photochemistry and Electron Transfer Studies
- Calpain Protease Function and Regulation
- Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing
- Analytical Chemistry and Chromatography
- Random lasers and scattering media
- Cellular transport and secretion
- Surfactants and Colloidal Systems
- Phase Equilibria and Thermodynamics
National Research Council
2012-2025
Instituto di Biofisica
2004-2022
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
2006-2021
Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics
2021
University of Palermo
2021
University of Messina
2012
University of Palermo
1977-2004
National Research Council Canada
2002
Biotechnology Research Institute
2002
University of Rome Tor Vergata
2002
Abstract Cellular, inter‐organismal and cross kingdom communication via extracellular vesicles (EVs) is intensively studied in basic science with high expectation for a large variety of bio‐technological applications. EVs intrinsically possess many attributes drug delivery vehicle. Beyond the implications cell biology, academic industrial interests have increased last few years. Microalgae constitute sustainable renewable sources bioactive compounds range sectoral applications, including...
Biophysical and biochemical characterisation of microalgae-derived extracellular vesicles.
Carbon dots are carbon-based nanoparticles renowned for their intense light-emitting capabilities covering the whole visible light range. Achieving carbon emitting in red region with high efficiency is extremely relevant due to huge potential biological applications and optoelectronics. Currently, photoluminescence such an energy interval often associated polyheterocyclic molecular domains forming during synthesis that, however, present low emission issues controlling optical features. Here,...
Deposition of the amyloid β-protein (Aβ) in senile or diffuse plaques is a distinctive feature Alzheimer's disease. The role Aβ aggregates etiology disease still controversial. formation linear aggregates, known as fibrils, has been proposed onset and cause pathological deposition. Yet, recent findings suggest that more crucial played by prefibrillar oligomeric assemblies are highly toxic extracellular environment. In present work, mechanism protofibril studied at pH 3.1, starting from...
Protein–protein interactions were investigated for α-chymotrypsinogen by static and dynamic light scattering (SLS DLS, respectively), as well small-angle neutron (SANS), a function of protein salt concentration at acidic conditions. Net protein–protein probed via the Kirkwood–Buff integral G22 structure factor S(q) from SLS SANS data. was obtained regressing Rayleigh ratio versus with local Taylor series approach, which does not require one to assume underlying form or nature intermolecular...
Using an IgG1 antibody as a model system, we have studied the mechanisms by which multidomain proteins aggregate at physiological pH when incubated temperatures just below their lowest thermal transition. In this temperature interval, only minor changes to protein conformation are observed. Light scattering consistently showed two coupled phases: initial fast phase followed several hours of exponential growth scattered intensity. This is exact opposite lag-time behavior typically observed in...
It has been established that Hsp60 can accumulate in the cytosol various pathological conditions, including cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. Part or all of cytosolic could be naïve, namely, bear mitochondrial import signal (MIS), but neither structure nor solution oligomeric organization this molecule still elucidated. Here we present a detailed study self-organization naïve solution. Results were obtained by different biophysical methods (light X ray scattering, single spectroscopy...
We propose a chromatographic method for the separation of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids by high-performance liquid chromatography system, equipped with photo diode array detector. Central to is use an appropriate mobile phase composed acetonitrile, methanol, n-hexane in ratio 90:8:2 acidified 0.2% acetic acid, which allows detection without preliminary derivatization chromophores or fluorescent dyes. Calibration on solutions standards mixtures gives quantification limit (at...
In the last decades, plant extracts have received great attention. particular, many studies pointed out potential neuroprotective effect of polyphenols-rich from plants. Evidence indeed highlights action polyphenols, both as antioxidants and inhibitors in formation amyloid protein aggregates, known to be involved neurodegenerative diseases. this work, aqueous obtained at high room temperature leaves Moringa oleifera (MO) harvested Sicily were characterized for polyphenolic content,...
The link between the thermodynamic properties of a solution and conformational space explored by protein is fundamental importance to understand control solubility, misfolding aggregation processes. Here, we study stability model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), addition trifluoroethanol (TFE), which known affect both solvent structure. solvent-mediated pair-wise interactions are investigated static dynamic light scattering, small angle X-ray scattering. details studied far- near-UV...
This work concerns the aggregation properties of (Gly–Val–Gly–Val–Pro)251 rec, a polypentapeptide reflecting highly conserved repetitive unit bioelastomer, elastin. On raising temperature aqueous solutions above 25°C, this polypeptide was already known to undergo concurrent conformational changes (hydrophobic folding), phase separation, and self-assembly with formation aggregated three-stranded filaments composed dynamic helices, called β-spirals. Aggregates obtained from solution can be...
Poly(vinyl alcohol), PVA, is amenable to several structural modifications because of the presence hydroxyl moiety in backbone. The chemical versatility this polymer can be used for obtainment new wall-to-wall pH-responsive PVA hydrogels and preparation air-filled microspheres, example, microbubbles. Here, we report on characterization physical properties these novel networks that potentially different biomedical applications as controlled drug delivery ultrasonic contrast agent.
Quantum mechanical ab initio calculations have been performed to evaluate the optimized geometry of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and t-butyl alcohol (TBA) their interaction potentials with water. The latter used in extensive molecular dynamics simulations. Statistical analyses systems configurations suggest that water molecules involved hydration are more tightly coordinated by TMAO than TBA. This affects diffusion properties solutes surrounding molecules.
Pineal hormone melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is thought to modulate the calcium/calmodulin signaling pathway either by changing intracellular Ca(2+) concentration via activation of its G-protein-coupled membrane receptors, or through a direct interaction with calmodulin (CaM). The present work studies intact calcium-saturated CaM both experimentally, fluorescence and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies, theoretically, molecular dynamics simulations. analysis experimental...
Neuroserpin, a member of the serpin protein superfamily, is an inhibitor proteolytic activity that involved in pathologies such as ischemia, Alzheimer's disease, and Familial Encephalopathy with Neuroserpin Inclusion Bodies (FENIB). The latter belongs to class conformational diseases, known serpinopathies, which are related aberrant polymerization mutants. polymerize, even its wild type form, under thermal stress. Here, we study mechanism neuroserpin over wide range temperatures by different...
C1-inhibitor is a serine protease inhibitor (serpin) controlling complement and contact system activation. Gene mutations result in reduced functional plasma level causing hereditary angioedema, life-threatening disorder. Despite stable defect, the clinical expression of angioedema unpredictable, molecular mechanism underlying this variability remains undisclosed. Here we report structural studies on Arg378Cys mutant found patient presenting levels, episodically undergoing normalization....
Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative characterized by the accumulation of pathological aggregates amyloid beta peptide. Many efforts have been focused on understanding peptide aggregation pathways and identification molecules able to inhibit in order find an effective therapy. As result, interest neuroprotective proteins, such as molecular chaperones, has increased their normal function assist protein folding or facilitate disaggregation and/or clearance abnormal aggregate...
A strong interest is currently focused on protein self-association and deposit. This usually involves conformational changes of the entire or a fragment. It can occur even at low concentrations responsible for pathologies such as systemic amyloidosis, Alzheimer's Prion diseases, other neurodegenerative pathologies. Readily available proteins, exhibiting concentration properties related to changes, offer very convenient model systems capable providing insight into this class problems. Here we...