IBB-CNR (Italy)

Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging of the National Research Council, Naples

Duration

From 30/09/2019 

Position

Researcher

Principal activities

Interests

Ph.D.

Molecular Biotechnology

Master

Degree

Industrial Biotechnology

Identification and functional and structural characterization of a therapeutic target (gene/protein). The research activities include structural biology and molecular biology studies using biochemical and biophysical techniques.

Protein structure-function relationship, protein–protein interactions;; biophysical characterization; antimicrobial and antitumoral peptides; static and dynamic light scattering; thermophoresis; ITC.

                              EDUCATION

University of Naples Federico II, Faculty of Biotechnological Sciences.

Date: 11/01/2010

Thesis title: Medulloblastoma tumour suppressor factor RENKCTD11: structure and function based design and development of new compounds for therapeutic interest.

Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging (CNR), Via Tommaso De Amicis,  95, 80145 Naples (Italy)

Date: 06/06/2005 - 05/06/2007

Program title: ▪        STRUIM - Training of specialists in the field of biostructures and bioimaging.

University of Naples Federico II, Faculty of Biotechnological Sciences.

Date: 30/03/2004

Thesis title: Study of genetic systems for the expression of the putative cellulase SsCelS from Sulfolobus solfataricus.

                   RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

My research is strongly focused on the structure-activity-function relationship in proteins relevant to biomedicine and biotechnology, aiming at the understanding of the molecular determinants underlying their biological activities. We use methodologies of both structural and molecular biology; starting from genes, we are able to express and purify protein samples useful for the structural characterization. We can use several experimental techniques for the study of the macromolecular structures: Dynamic Light Scattering and circular dichroism. Structural studies are generally associated with a biophysical and functional characterization of the samples under study. In doing this we exploit techniques such as UV-VIS spectroscopy,  Fluorimetry, Isothermal Titration Calorimetry and Microscale Thermophoresis. Furthermore, we often use advanced methods in molecular biology in order to prepare ad-hoc point mutants to gain further insights into the proteins biological functions.

                  SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTION/MANAGERIAL

I am author and co-author of 55 international journals.  The h-index is 16 (Web of Science - Scopus). Total citation: more than 600

I am Guest Editor of International Journal of Molecular Science Special Issue “Structure–Function Relationship in Proteins Correlated with the Insurgence of Diseases" (Impact factor 4.556, 2019).