Ricerc@Sapienza

The CFDP1 proteins have been linked to craniofacial development and osteogenesis in vertebrates, though
specific human syndromes have not yet been identified. Alterations of craniofacial development represent the
main cause of infant disability and mortality in humans. For this reason, it is crucial to understand the cellular
functions and mechanism of action of the CFDP1 protein in model vertebrate organisms. Using a combination of
genomic, molecular and cell biology approaches, we have performed a functional analysis of the cfdp1 gene and

The initiation of action potentials (APs) by membrane depolarization occurs after a brief vulnerability period, during which excitation can be abolished by the reversal of the stimulus polarity. This vulnerability period is determined by the time needed for gating of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSC). We compared nerve excitation by ultra-short uni- and bipolar stimuli to define the time frame of bipolar cancellation and of AP initiation.

Excitotoxicity is known to modulate the nuclear accumulation, and thus activity state, of histone deacetylases (HDACs) in pyramidal neurons. In the retina, deregulation in activity and expression of different HDACs has been linked to pathological conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa, retinal ischemia, glaucoma, and acute optic nerve injury. Up to now, however, the effects of in vivo excitotoxicity on the different HDACs in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) have not been thoroughly investigated.

Oregonin is an open-chain diarylheptanoid isolated from Alnus incana bark that possesses remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, inhibits adipogenesis, and can be used in the prevention of obesity and related metabolic disorders. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of oregonin on the epigenetic regulation in cells as well as its ability to modulate DNA methylating enzymes expression and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copies.

INTRODUCTION:
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, after the initial 'golden age', are currently used as third-line antidepressants (selective MAO-A inhibitors) or clinically enrolled as co-adjuvants for neurodegenerative diseases (selective MAO-B inhibitors). However, the research within this field is always increasing due to their pivotal role in modulating synaptic functions and monoamines metabolism.
AREAS COVERED:

Redox signaling regulates different gastrointestinal (G.I.) epithelium functions. At the intestinal level, the loss of redox homeostasis in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) is responsible for the pathogenesis and development of a wide diversity of G.I. disorders. Thus, the manipulation of oxidative stress in IECs could represent an important pharmacological target for different diseasesIn this study, peptides released from in vitro gastro intestinal digestion of different buffalo-milk commercial dairy products were identified and evaluated for their bioactive properties.

We discovered a series of azole antifungal compounds as effective antiprotozoal agents. They displayed promising inhibitory activities within the micromolar-submicromolar range against P. falciparum, L. donovani, and T. b. rhodesiense. Moreover, most of such compounds showed excellent nanomolar IC50against T. cruzi, showing also very low cytotoxicity. Discussion of structure-activity relationships and biological data for these compounds are provided against the different parasites. To assess the mechanism of action against T.

Inflammation and oxidative stress are always more recognized as responsible for chronic disease at the intestinal level. Currently, a growing interest is addressed to the discovery of diet-derived products which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This work aims to characterize the pharmacological potential of dehydrated potatoes. For this purpose, a simulated gastrointestinal digestion was carried out.

Despite a vast amount of literature has focused on trace element (TE) contamination in Antarctica during the last decades, the assessment of the main pathways driving TE transfer to the biota is still an overlooked issue. This limits the ability to predict how variations in sea-ice dynamics and productivity due to climate change will affect TE allocation in the food web.

Background: We explored the possibility to improve male/female separation (sexing) in Aedes albopictus by selection of two strains, one toward increasing sex dimorphism and another toward increasing protandry. In the laboratory we selected and crossed small males with large females to exploit dimorphism, and early pupating males with late pupating females to exploit protandry. Results: While selection for enhanced dimorphism was not a profitable character, the selection for enhanced protandry up to F10 produced significant improvement in the time interval between male and female pupation.