The project aims to investigate the physiopathological roles of a class of emerging genes causative for neuronal functional and morphological alterations that impact on cellular development, synaptic function and behavior. The activities related to this research topic are the study of proteins involved in the physiopathological mechanisms that regulate synaptic vesicle biogenesis, trafficking and degradation and the impact of dysregulation of presynaptic physiology in brain disorders
Characterization of the molecular and electrophysiological mechanisms of human mutations in synaptic genes causative of autism and epilepsy
Scientists: Baldelli P., Benfenati F., Corradi A., Fassio A., Michetti C., Onofri F., Sterlini B., Tsushima Semini H.
Keywords: epileptogenesis, synapsins, autism, hyperexcitability, behavioral phenotype
Role of proteins that regulate pH homeostasis and autophagy in the regulation of neuronal development and synaptic vesicle trafficking
Roles of the dysregulation of endocytic pathways and autophagy in developmental encephalopathy with epilepsy
Scientists: Benfenati F., Corradi A., Fassio A., Giovedi S., Michetti C., Tsushima Semini H.
Keywords: live-imaging, autophagy, neurodevelopment, neurodegeneration, synaptic vesicles
Role of LRKK2 in synaptic vesicle trafficking and neurotransmitter release in Parkinson’s disease
Scientists: Benfenati F., Marte A., Onofri F.
Keywords: LRRK2, Parkinson’s disease, synapsins, synaptic vesicles, phosphorylation
Role of APache in neuronal development, synaptic functions and implications for Alzheimer’s disease
Scientists: Benfenati F., Giovedì S.
Keywords: APache, autophagy, Alzheimer’s disease, neurodevelopment, synaptic vescicles
Neuroinflammation and synaptic plasticity
Scientists: Benfenati F., Baldelli P., Dionisi M., Onofri F., Valente P.
Keywords: ion channels, neuroinflammation, TRP channels, pain, calcium
Mechanisms and applications of hypoglycemic diet in preventing epileptogenesis in experimental models of epilepsy
Scientists: Baldelli P., Benfenati F., Michetti C.
Keywords: hypoglycaemic diet, multi-electrode array electrophysiology (MEA), behavioral phenotype
Physiological role of beta-amyloid in memory formation mechanisms
Role of cyclic nucleotides cAMP and cGMP in the metabolism of proteins involved in synaptic transmission and neurodegeneration, with a particular focus on beta-amyloid, tau, and prion protein
Antiproliferative strategies in post-surgical therapy for retinal neurodegeneration in glaucoma
Scientists: Ricciarelli R.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid-β, Tau, neurodegeneration, glaucoma, tenocytes
Roles of the dysregulation of autophagy and extracellular vesicle release in TDP-43-mediated toxicity in fronto-temporal dementia (FTLD) with in vitro and in vivo models
Generation and characterization of 3D spheroid models for in vitro evaluation of degeneration
Scientists: Cortese K.
Keywords: imaging, autophagy, electron microscopy, neurodegeneration, TDP-43, 3D spheroids