A5061631234- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- ATP Synthase and ATPases Research
- Metabolism and Genetic Disorders
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- RNA modifications and cancer
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research
- Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies
- Caveolin-1 and cellular processes
- Genetic Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Cholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Extracellular vesicles in disease
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Machine Learning in Bioinformatics
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Neurogenetic and Muscular Disorders Research
- RNA regulation and disease
- Nanopore and Nanochannel Transport Studies
University of Catania
2016-2025
Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging
2014-2024
Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo
2024
Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi
2008-2023
Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials
2015
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Catania
2010
National Research Council
2009
University of Padua
2008
Università degli Studi della Tuscia
2004
Istituto di Farmacologia Traslazionale
1999
The 42-aa-long β-amyloid protein—Aβ 1-42 —is thought to play a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) (Walsh and Selkoe, 2007). Data from AD brain (Shankar et al., 2008), transgenic APP (amyloid precursor protein)-overexpressing mice (Lesné 2006), neuronal cultures treated with synthetic Aβ peptides (Lambert 1998) indicate that self-association monomers into soluble oligomers is required for neurotoxicity. function monomeric unknown. evidence present CSF normal...
Human keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is an epithelial cell specific mitogen which secreted by normal stromal fibroblasts. In the present studies, we demonstrate that KGF as potent EGF in stimulating proliferation of primary or secondary human keratinocytes tissue culture. Exposure KGF- EGF-stimulated to 1.0 mM calcium, inducer differentiation, led cessation growth. However, immunologic analysis early and late markers terminal K1 filaggrin, respectively, revealed striking differences...
Elevated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling has been found in Alzheimer9s disease (AD) patients and is linked to diabetes aging, two known risk factors for AD. However, whether hyperactive mTOR plays a role the cognitive deficits associated with AD remains elusive. Here, we genetically reduced brains Tg2576 mice, widely used animal model We that suppression amyloid-β deposits rescued memory deficits. Mechanistically, reduction led an increase autophagy induction restored...
Aging is the most important risk factor associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, molecular mechanisms linking aging to AD remain unclear. Suppression of ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) increases healthspan and lifespan in several organisms, from nematodes mammals. Here we show that S6K1 expression upregulated brains patients. Using a mouse model AD, found genetic reduction improved synaptic plasticity spatial memory deficits, reduced accumulation amyloid-β tau, two...
Unraveling the role of VDAC3 within living cells is challenging and still requires a definitive answer. Unlike VDAC1 VDAC2, outer mitochondrial membrane porin 3 exhibits unique biophysical features that suggest unknown cellular functions. Electrophysiological studies on carrying selective cysteine mutations mass spectrometry data about redox state such sulfur containing amino acids are consistent with putative involvement isoform in ROS homeostasis. Here, we thoroughly examined this issue...
// Simona Reina 1,2* , Vanessa Checchetto 3,4,5,* Rosaria Saletti 6 Ankit Gupta 7,* Deepti Chaturvedi Carlo Guardiani 8 Francesca Guarino 1,2 Mariano Andrea Scorciapino 9 Magrì Salvatore Foti Matteo Ceccarelli 8,10,** Angela Anna Messina 11,12,** Radhakrishnan Mahalakshmi 7,** Ildiko Szabo 3,4,** and Vito De Pinto 1 Department of Biomedicine Biotechnology BIOMETEC, Section Biology Genetics, University Catania, Italy 2 National Institute for Biomembranes Biosystems, 3 Biology, Padova, 4 CNR...
MPP+ is the active metabolite of MPTP, a molecule structurally similar to herbicide Paraquat, known injure dopaminergic neurons nigrostriatal system in Parkinson’s disease models. Within cells, accumulates mitochondria where it inhibits complex I electron transport chain, resulting ATP depletion and neuronal impairment/death. So far, recognized as valuable tool mimic degeneration various cell lines. However, despite large number studies, detailed characterization mitochondrial respiration...
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as powerful players in cell-to-cell communication both healthy and diseased brain. In Parkinson's disease (PD)-characterized by selective dopaminergic neuron death ventral midbrain (VMB) degeneration of their terminals striatum (STR)-astrocytes exert dual harmful/protective functions, with mechanisms not fully elucidated. Here, this study shows that astrocytes from the VMB-, STR-, VMB/STR-depleted brains release a population small EVs region-specific...
Abstract Mitochondrial dysfunction and the loss of mitophagy, aimed at recycling irreversibly damaged organelles, contribute to onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting spinal cord motor neurons. In this work, we showed that reduction mitochondrial respiration, exactly oxygen flows linked ATP production maximal capacity, correlates with appearance most common ALS symptoms in transgenic mouse model expressing SOD1 G93A mutant. This is result equal...
The voltage-dependent anion-selective channel isoform 1 (VDAC1) is a pivotal component in cellular metabolism and apoptosis with prominent role many cancer types, offering unique therapeutic intervention point. Through an
Mitochondrial porin, or voltage-dependent anion channel, is a pore-forming protein first discovered in the outer mitochondrial membrane. Later investigations have provided indications for its presence also other cellular membranes, including plasma membrane, and caveolae. This extra-mitochondrial localization debated no clear-cut conclusion has been reached up to now. In this work, we used biochemical electrophysiological techniques detect characterize porin within isolated caveolae...
Outer dense fibers (ODF) are specific subcellular components of the sperm flagellum. The functions ODF have not yet been clearly elucidated. We investigated protein composition purified from bovine spermatozoa and found that one most abundant proteins is a 30–32-kDa polypeptide. This was analyzed by sequencing peptides derived following limited proteolysis. Peptide sequences were to match VDAC2 VDAC3. VDACs (voltage-dependent, anion-selective channels) or eukaryotic porins group first...
Voltage-Dependent Anion selective Channel maintains the permeability of outer mitochondrial membrane and is relevant in bioenergetic metabolism apoptosis. The structure protein was shown to be a β-barrel formed by 19 strands. topology or sideness pore has been predicted with various approaches but general consensus never reached. This an important issue since VDAC considered receptor Hexokinase Bcl-2. We fused at VDAC1 C-terminus two tags separated caspase cleavage site. Activation cellulo...
Abstract Superoxide Dismutase 1 mutants associate with 20–25% of familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) cases, producing toxic aggregates on mitochondria, notably in spinal cord. The Voltage Dependent Anion Channel isoform (VDAC1) the outer mitochondrial membrane is a docking site for SOD1 G93A mutant ALS mice and physiological receptor Hexokinase I (HK1), which poorly expressed mouse Our results demonstrate that HK1 competes binding VDAC1, suggesting cord available HK1-binding sites...