Ricerc@Sapienza

Restriction enzymes have been identified in the early 1950s of the past century and have quickly become key players in the
molecular biology of DNA. Forty years ago, the scientists whose pioneering work had explored the activity and sequence
specificity of these enzymes, contributing to the definition of their enormous potential as tools for DNA characterization,
mapping and manipulation, were awarded the Nobel Prize. In this short review, we celebrate the history of these enzymes in

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

Blood-feeding animals are known for their ability to produce bioactive compounds to impair haemostasis and suppress pain perception in the host. These compounds are extremely appealing for pharmacological development since they are generally very effective and specific for their molecular target. A preliminary RNA-Seq based characterization of the secretion from salivary and mid-oesophageal tissues of the vampire snail Cumia reticulata, revealed a complex mixture of feeding-related transcripts with potential anaesthetic and anticoagulant action.