Article
Cell Biology
Patrizia Romani, Nunzia Nirchio, Mattia Arboit, Vito Barbieri, Anna Tosi, Federica Michielin, Soichi Shibuya, Thomas Benoist, Danchen Wu, Charles Colin Thomas Hindmarch, Monica Giomo, Anna Urciuolo, Flavia Giamogante, Antonella Roveri, Probir Chakravarty, Marco Montagner, Tito Cali, Nicola Elvassore, Stephen L. Archer, Paolo De Coppi, Antonio Rosato, Graziano Martello, Sirio Dupont
Summary: Romani et al. found that cells on soft extracellular matrix have increased mitochondrial fission and production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, which may contribute to resistance to chemotherapy drugs in breast cancer cells. The mechanical properties of the tissue also influence the response to treatment. The study suggests that a soft extracellular matrix enhances redox homeostasis and resistance to oxidative stress and chemotherapy drugs.
NATURE CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ilaria Caputo, Brasilina Caroccia, Ilaria Frasson, Elena Poggio, Stefania Zamberlan, Margherita Morpurgo, Teresa M. Seccia, Tito Cali, Marisa Brini, Sara N. Richter, Gian Paolo Rossi
Summary: Blockers of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) can increase the expression of ACE2, the cellular receptor of SARS-CoV-2, and thus increase the risk of COVID-19. This study found that angiotensin II (Ang II) significantly increased the levels of ACE2 expression by acting on the angiotensin type 1 receptor, resulting in enhanced viral entry into cells. However, the blockade of ACE-1-mediated Ang II formation and ACE2-mediated Ang II conversion did not have any effect. Therefore, increased production of Ang II in patients with an activated RAS may lead to a greater spread of COVID-19 infection in lung cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Flavia Giamogante, Lucia Barazzuol, Elena Poggio, Marta Tromboni, Marisa Brini, Tito Cali
Summary: The study presents a new vector library of Split-GFP-based contact sites (SPLICS) cloned into a piggyBac system for stable and inducible expression of reporters in a cell line of interest. Stable HeLa cell lines expressing SPLICS between different organelles were generated and used to investigate the effect of modulating cholesterol traffic on membrane contact sites. The results highlight the importance of different interfaces for cholesterol sensing and distribution within the cell.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesca Vallese, Kookjoo Kim, Laura Y. Yen, Jake D. Johnston, Alex J. Noble, Tito Cali, Oliver Biggs Clarke
Summary: The cryo-EM structures of the human erythrocyte ankyrin-1 complex provide insights into the architecture of the RBC membrane and demonstrate how ankyrins recruit different membrane proteins to enable membrane transport processes.
NATURE STRUCTURAL & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Lucia Barazzuol, Domenico Cieri, Nicola Facchinello, Tito Cali, Philip Washbourne, Francesco Argenton, Paola Pizzo
Summary: This study generated a zebrafish line with a psen2 knockout, and found that the absence of the protein does not significantly affect Notch signaling, but leads to an exaggeration of locomotor response, a decrease in ER-mitochondria contacts, and an increase in basal autophagy. The protein also plays a role in mitochondrial axonal transport, and its downregulation reduces organelle flux in zebrafish sensory neurons. These findings highlight zebrafish as a valuable model organism for studying PS2 functions and testing potential therapies for Alzheimer's disease.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roberta Besio, Barbara M. Contento, Nadia Garibaldi, Marta Filibian, Stephan Sonntag, Doron Shmerling, Francesca Tonelli, Marco Biggiogera, Marisa Brini, Andrea Salmaso, Milena Jovanovic, Joan C. Marini, Antonio Rossi, Antonella Forlino
Summary: Ca2+ is a second messenger that regulates cellular responses in bone, and deficiency of TRIC-B causes bone growth and structural problems, leading to bone fractures. This is associated with imbalances in Ca2+, delayed osteoblast differentiation, and decreased collagen synthesis.
Article
Cell Biology
Elena Poggio, Francesca Vallese, Andreas J. W. Hartel, Travis J. Morgenstern, Scott A. Kanner, Oliver Rauh, Flavia Giamogante, Lucia Barazzuol, Kenneth L. Shepard, Henry M. Colecraft, Oliver Biggs Clarke, Marisa Brini, Tito Cali
Summary: COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It has a wide range of clinical phenotypes and was declared a global pandemic in March 2020. As of February 2023, there have been almost 670 million confirmed cases and 6.8 million deaths worldwide. The E protein of SARS-CoV-2 may be an important candidate for vaccine development and clinical management of COVID.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Marisa Brini, Tito Cali
Summary: The study reveals that phosphorylation of GSK3β plays a regulatory role in SERCA2 activity in cardiac cells. In ischemic hearts, this phosphorylation leads to a decrease in SERCA2 pump activity and Ca2+ overload, increasing the risk of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, inhibiting this phosphorylation significantly increases SERCA2 activity and reduces cell death during reperfusion, improving excitation-contraction coupling in cardiomyocytes. This study provides valuable insights into the pathophysiology of GSK3β-mediated SERCA2 phosphorylation in heart diseases and suggests new clinical therapeutic approaches for post infarction heart failure.
Article
Cell Biology
Caterina Peggion, Lucia Barazzuol, Elena Poggio, Tito Cali, Marisa Brini
Summary: Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by various factors. Genetic mutations in genes associated with mitochondrial function or endo-lysosomal pathways are linked to familial PD. Maintaining proper mitochondrial communication with other organelles, such as ER, lysosomes, and peroxisomes, is important for neuronal function, and dysregulation of this communication may contribute to the progression of PD. Understanding the molecular details of mitochondrial tethering could lead to the identification of therapeutic targets and the development of new strategies for treating PD.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Claudia Tito, Ilaria Genovese, Flavia Giamogante, Anna Benedetti, Selenia Miglietta, Lucia Barazzuol, Loredana Cristiano, Alessia Iaiza, Sabatino Carolini, Luciana De Angelis, Silvia Masciarelli, Stefania Annarita Nottola, Giuseppe Familiari, Vincenzo Petrozza, Mattia Lauriola, Luca Tamagnone, Andrea Ilari, Tito Cali, Hector H. Valdivia, Carmen R. Valdivia, Gianni Colotti, Francesco Fazi
Summary: This study elucidates a functional mechanism that links calcium homeostasis to EGFR signaling in cancer. Sorcin directly binds EGFR protein in a calcium-dependent fashion, regulating calcium homeostasis and controlling EGFR proteostasis and signaling. This promotes cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, malignant progression, and resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. Sorcin can also enhance the effectiveness of EGFR-targeting therapies.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Elena Poggio, Lucia Barazzuol, Andrea Salmaso, Celeste Milani, Adamantia Deligiannopoulou, Angeles Garcia Cazorla, Se Song Jang, Natalia Julia-Palacios, Boris Keren, Robert Kopajtich, Sally Ann Lynch, Cyril Mignot, Catherine Moorwood, Christiane Neuhofer, Vincenzo Nigro, Anna Oostra, Holger Prokisch, Virginie Saillour, Nika Schuermans, Annalaura Torella, Patrick Verloo, Elise Yazbeck, Marcella Zollino, Robert Jech, Juliane Winkelmann, Jan Necpal, Tito Cali, Marisa Brini, Michael Zech
Summary: This study found an association between ATP2B2 variants and human neurological disorders, including neurological abnormalities such as ataxia, intellectual disability, autism, and seizures.
GENETICS IN MEDICINE
(2023)