College contact person: prof. Guglielmo Duranti; Tutor: prof. Roberta Ceci

Lines of research:

1. Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying muscle cell differentiation;
2. homeostasis of redox state in both “in vitro” studies in muscle cell models and “in vivo” studies in the response to exercise and/or oxidative stress;
3. Study of polyamine metabolism in skeletal muscle under physiological and atrophy conditions both “in vitro” and “in vivo” on mouse models;
4. Effect of supplementation with extracts of Moringa Oleifera Lam. and/or other naturally occurring antioxidant molecules on energy metabolism and modulation of redox state also in response to oxidative stress in “in vitro” and “in vivo” models;
5. identification of natural protease inhibitors (Kunitz-like KTPI inhibitors) expressed by two myeloid insect species, Lydus trimaculatus and Mylabris variabilis, and validation of their pharmacological use as anticoagulant agents and inhibitors of NETs (Neutrophil Extracellular Traps).

Methods: maintenance of primary and stabilized cell cultures; purification of PBMCs from blood samples; extraction, purification and analysis of DNA and RNA proteins (electrophoresis, western blot, PCR); spectrophotometry; enzyme kinetics; chromatography (on column and HPLC).