A5066912496- Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
- Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
- Chemical Synthesis and Analysis
- Computational Drug Discovery Methods
- Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions
- Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases
- Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials
- Cellular transport and secretion
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Protein Kinase Regulation and GTPase Signaling
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- Peptidase Inhibition and Analysis
- interferon and immune responses
- RNA Research and Splicing
- ATP Synthase and ATPases Research
- Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Chromatography in Natural Products
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
- Click Chemistry and Applications
- Protein Degradation and Inhibitors
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Cancer Mechanisms and Therapy
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging
2016-2025
National Research Council
2015-2025
University of Naples Federico II
2012-2018
Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca sui Peptidi Bioattivi
2014-2018
Naples Anesthesia & Physician Associates
2015
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
2015
Over the last few decades, we have witnessed growing interest from both academic and industrial laboratories in peptides as possible therapeutics. Bioactive a high potential to treat various diseases with specificity biological safety. Compared small molecules, represent better candidates inhibitors (or general modulators) of key protein–protein interactions. In fact, undruggable proteins containing large smooth surfaces can be more easily targeted conformational plasticity peptides. The...
The physical and chemical properties of paddlewheel diruthenium compounds are highly dependent on the nature ligands surrounding bimetallic core. Herein, we compare ability two compounds, [Ru2Cl(D-p-FPhF)(O2CCH3)3]·H2O (1) (D-p-FPhF– = N,N′-bis(4-fluorophenyl)formamidinate) K3[Ru2(O2CO)4]·3H2O (2), to act as inhibitors amyloid aggregation Aβ1–42 peptide its peculiar fragments, Aβ1–16 Aβ21–40. A wide range biophysical techniques has been used determine inhibition capacity against possible...
Recently, SASH1 has emerged as a novel protein interactor of few Eph tyrosine kinase receptors like EphA2. These interactions involve the first N-terminal Sam (sterile alpha motif) domain (SASH1-Sam1) and receptors. Currently, functional meaning SASH1-Sam1/EphA2-Sam complex is unknown, but EphA2 well-established crucial player in cancer onset progression. Thus, herein, to investigate possible correlation between formation activity cancer, cancer-linked mutations SASH1-Sam1 were deeply...
Microalgae are an excellent source of valuable compounds for nutraceutical and cosmeceutical applications. These photosynthesizing microorganisms amenable large-scale production, thus overcoming the bottleneck biomass supply chemical activity characterization bioactive compounds. This characteristic has recently also prompted screening microalgae potential pharmaceutical Here, we show that monoacylglycerides (MAGs) purified from marine diatom Skeletonema marinoi have selective cytotoxic...
Abstract: We have designed a cyclic 17-amino acid β-defensin analog featuring single disulfide bond. This analog, designated "AMC" (ie, antimicrobial peptide), combines the internal hydrophobic domain of hBD1 and C-terminal charged region hBD3. The novel peptide was synthesized characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. activities against gram-positive gram-negative bacteria as well herpes simplex virus type 1 were analyzed. cytotoxicity serum stability assessed. Nuclear AMC...
Abstract Water soluble fibers of PEGylated tetra-phenylalanine (F4), chemically modified at the N-terminus with DOTA chelating agent, have been proposed as innovative contrast agent (CA) in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) upon complexation gadolinium ion. An in-depth structural characterization F4-fibers, presence (DOTA-L 6 -F4) and absence (L -F4), is reported solution solid state, by a multiplicity techniques including CD, FTIR, NMR, DLS, WAXS SAXS. This study aims to better understand...
Peptide nucleic acids and their conjugates to peptides can self-assemble generate complex architectures. In this work, we explored the self-assembly of PNA dimers conjugated dipeptide WW. Our studies suggest that indole ring tryptophan promotes aggregation conjugates. The onset fluorescence is observed upon self-assembly. structure self-assembled WWgc concentration-dependent, being spherical at low concentrations fibrous high concentrations. As suggested by molecular modeling studies, fibers...
Introduction: SOCS3 (suppressor of cytokine signaling 3) protein is a crucial regulator cytokine-induced inflammation, and its administration has been shown to have therapeutic effects. Recently, we designed chimeric proteomimetic SOCS3, mimicking the interfacing regions ternary complex composed JAK2 (Janus kinase 2) gp130 (glycoprotein 130) proteins. The derived peptide, KIRCONG chim, demonstrated limited mimetic function owing poor water solubility. Methods: We report investigations...
The EphA2 receptor plays key roles in many physiological and pathological events, including cancer. process of endocytosis the consequent degradation have attracted attention as possible means overcoming negative outcomes cancer cells decreasing tumor malignancy. A recent study indicates that Sam (sterile alpha motif) domains Odin, a member ANKS (ankyrin repeat sterile motif domain-containing) family proteins, are important for regulation endocytosis. Odin contains two tandem (Odin-Sam1...
Very recently we proposed novel di- and tetra-phenylalanine peptides derivatized with gadolinium complexes as potentials supramolecular diagnostic agents for applications in MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). It was observed that very short FF dipeptide building blocks, the propensity to aggregate decreases significantly after modification bulky moiety such Gd-complexes, thus limiting their potential CAs. We hypothesized replacement of Phe side chain more extended aromatic groups could...
The lipid phosphatase Ship2 interacts with the EphA2 receptor by forming a heterotypic Sam (sterile alpha motif)–Sam complex. works as negative regulator of endocytosis and consequent degradation, anti-oncogenic effects in cancer cells should be induced hindering its association EphA2. Herein, computational approach is presented to investigate relationship between Ship2-Sam/EphA2-Sam interaction onset further progression. A search was first conducted through COSMIC (Catalogue Somatic...
The Sam (sterile alpha motif) domain from the lipid phosphatase Ship2 binds EphA2 receptor to negatively regulate endocytosis and degradation. This interaction is primarily linked pro-oncogenic effects. We report on design evaluation of EphA2-Sam/Ship2-Sam peptide inhibitors provided with positive charges different aromatic characters. Starting sequence previously identified Ship2-Sam targeting peptides, an in silico approach was set up predict higher affinity ligands. A few peptides were...
A solid-phase S-alkylation procedure to introduce chemical modification on the cysteine sulfhydryl group of a peptidyl resin is reported. The reaction promoted by activated molecular sieves and consists solid-solid process, since both catalyst substrate are in solid state. was revealed be efficient versatile, particularly when used combination with solution approach, allowing for introduction different diversities same peptide molecule.
Abstract The lipid phosphatase Ship2 represents a drug discovery target for the treatment of different diseases, including cancer. Its C-terminal sterile alpha motif domain (Ship2-Sam) associates with Sam from EphA2 receptor (EphA2-Sam). This interaction is expected to mainly induce pro-oncogenic effects in cells therefore, inhibition Ship2-Sam/EphA2-Sam complex may represent an innovative route discover anti-cancer therapeutics. In present work, we designed and analyzed several peptide...
The study of molecules that self-assemble through noncovalent interactions is one the most attractive topics in supramolecular chemistry. use short peptides or modified nucleotides as building blocks for aggregates particularly intriguing because these are very easy to synthesize; moreover, subtle changes chemical structure such may drastically affect properties aggregates. ability peptide nucleic acids (PNA) aggregate has been little explored, despite its practical applications. In this...
Abstract Arap3 is a phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase effector protein that plays role as GTPase activator (GAP) for Arf6 and RhoA. contains sterile alpha motif (Sam) domain has high sequence homology with the Sam of EphA2‐receptor (EphA2‐Sam). Both Arap3‐Sam EphA2‐Sam are able to associate lipid phosphatase Ship2 (Ship2‐Sam). Recently, we reported novel interaction between first Odin (Odin‐Sam1), belonging ANKS (ANKyrin repeat containing) family, EphA2‐Sam. In our latest work, applied NMR...
The immunomodulatory effects of Suppressor Cytokine Signaling (SOCS) proteins, that control the JAK/STAT pathway, indicate them as attractive candidates for immunotherapies. Recombinant SOCS3 protein suppresses inflammation, and its deletion in neurons or immune cells increases pathological blood vessels growth. Recently, on basis structure ternary complex among SOCS3, JAK2, gp130, we focused interfacing regions designed several interfering peptides (IPs) were able to mimic biological role...