Ricerc@Sapienza

Abstract: Changes in cell–matrix and cell-to-cell adhesion patterns are dramatically fostered by
the microgravity exposure of living cells. The modification of adhesion properties could promote
the emergence of a migrating and invasive phenotype. We previously demonstrated that short
exposure to the simulated microgravity of human keratinocytes (HaCaT) promotes an early epithelial–
mesenchymal transition (EMT). Herein, we developed this investigation to verify if the cells maintain

Metazoan living cells exposed to microgravity undergo dramatic changes in morphological and biological properties, which ultimately lead to apoptosis and phenotype reprogramming. However, apoptosis can occur at very different rates depending on the experimental model, and in some cases, cells seem to be paradoxically protected from programmed cell death during weightlessness.

Increasing evidence suggests that in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) mutated RNA binding proteins acquire aberrant functions, leading to altered RNA metabolism with significant impact on encoded protein levels. Here, by taking advantage of a human induced pluripotent stem cell-based model, we aimed to gain insights on the impact of ALS mutant FUS on the motoneuron proteome.

Some yet unidentified factors released by both oocyte and embryonic microenvironments demonstrated to be non-permissive for tumor development and display the remarkable ability to foster cell/tissue reprogramming, thus ultimately reversing the malignant phenotype. In the present study we observed how molecular factors extracted from Zebrafish embryos during specific developmental phases (20 somites) significantly antagonize proliferation of breast cancer cells, while reversing a number of prominent aspects of malignancy.