Ricerc@Sapienza

Our laboratory is dedicated to understanding how RNA modifications influence cancer and to developing novel therapies. We focus on three core areas: 

PCIF1: m⁶A_m mRNA modification and oncogenesis. We investigate PCIF1, the specific methyltransferase that catalyzes N⁶,2′-O-dimethyladenosine (m⁶A_m) modification at the 5'-end of mRNA and is deregulated in different types of cancer. Using diverse molecular and cellular approaches, we aim to confirm PCIF1 as a promising therapeutic target. Our goal is to identify its specific mRNA targets and the oncogenic pathways it regulates, uncovering novel cancer vulnerabilities.

QTGAL: translational fidelity in cancer. Our work explores the tRNA-modifying enzyme QTGAL, which catalyzes the galactosylation of queuosine (galQ) at the wobble position of tRNA-Tyr. This modification is crucial for translational fidelity. QTGAL is often upregulated in various cancers, including breast cancer. Our research aims to identify precisely how QTGAL activity affects translational efficiency and accuracy in cancer cells and to delineate the impact of its downregulation on cancer growth and progression. 

METTL3: m⁶A modification and anti-cancer therapies. A major focus is developing anti-cancer therapies by targeting METTL3, the catalytic component responsible for installing N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) RNA modifications in mRNA. METTL3 is frequently overexpressed and acts as a key oncogene in multiple cancer types, promoting aggressive phenotypes and fostering drug resistance. As a druggable enzyme, inhibiting METTL3 offers a promising new class of epigenetic drugs. Our aim is to lay the groundwork for developing effective combination therapies, enhancing therapeutic responses and overcoming resistance mechanisms in cancer treatment.