Giovanna Valentini
e-mail: giovale AT unipv.it
affiliation: Università di Pavia
research area(s): Chemical Biology, Molecular Biology
Course:
Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology
University/Istitution: Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori, Pavia
University/Istitution: Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori, Pavia
ACADEMIC POSITION:
Associate Professor of Industrial Biochemistry, University of Pavia
EDUCATION:
• 1969 University of Pavia (Italy), Biology Degree
• 1972-1975 University of Pavia (Italy), PhD in Biological Chemistry
• 1975-1978 University of Pavia (Italy), Post-doc
• 1978-1982 University of Pavia (Italy), Assistant Professor
Associate Professor of Industrial Biochemistry, University of Pavia
EDUCATION:
• 1969 University of Pavia (Italy), Biology Degree
• 1972-1975 University of Pavia (Italy), PhD in Biological Chemistry
• 1975-1978 University of Pavia (Italy), Post-doc
• 1978-1982 University of Pavia (Italy), Assistant Professor
The main research interests of Prof Valentini have been focused on the definition of the structure-function relationship of several proteins, among which the bacterial and human pyruvate kinase, the human pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase type 1, the human adenylate kinase type 1, the human phosphoglycerate kinase type 1, the L-asparaginase from Helicobacter pylori and the prion-like Doppel (Dpl) should be cited. The core of the research activity is represented by the biochemical characterization of the molecular properties of the proteins of interest. To investigate the behaviour of mutant enzymes causing pathological disorders, from 1995 she has been working on cloning, overexpression and protein engineering.
Chiarelli LR, Molinaro M., Libetta C., Tinelli C., Cosmai L., Valentini G., Dal Canton A., Regazzi M. (2010). Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase variability in renal transplant patients on long-term mycophenolate mofetil therapy. Br J Clin Pharmacol, 69: 38-50
Lucarelli AP, Buroni S, Pasca Mr, Rizzi M, Cavagnino A, Valentini G, Riccardi G, Chiarelli LR. (2010). Mycobacterium tuberculosis Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate Synthetase: Biochemical Features of a Crucial Enzyme for Mycobacterial Cell Wall Biosynthesis. Plos One, 5; e15494
Rognoni P, Chiarelli LR, Comincini S, Azzalin A, Miracco C, Valentini G. (2010). Biochemical signatures of doppel (Dpl) protein in human glioblastoma to support prediction in tumor malignancy. J Biomed Biotechnol, 2010: 301067
Scotti C, Sommi P, Pasquetto MV, Cappelletti D, Stivala S, Mignosi P, Savio M, Chiarelli LR, Valentini G, Bolanos-Garcia VM, Merrell DS, Franchini S, Verona ML, Bolis C, Solcia E, Manca R, Franciotta D, Casasco A, Filipazzi P, Zardini E, Vannini V (2010). Cell-cycle inhibition by Helicobacter pylori L-asparaginase. Plos One, 5: e13892
Cappelletti D, Chiarelli L, Pasquetto MV, Stivala S, Valentini G, Scotti C (2008). Helicobacter pylori L-asparaginase: A promising chemotherapeutic agent. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 377: 1222-1226
Chiarelli LR, Morera SM, Galizzi A, Fermo E, Zanella A, Valentini G. (2008). Molecular basis of pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase deficiency caused by 3 newly identified missense mutations (c.187T>C, c.469G>C and c.740T>C) and a tabulation of known mutations. Blood Cell Mol Dis, 40: 295-301
Lucarelli AP, Buroni S, Pasca Mr, Rizzi M, Cavagnino A, Valentini G, Riccardi G, Chiarelli LR. (2010). Mycobacterium tuberculosis Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate Synthetase: Biochemical Features of a Crucial Enzyme for Mycobacterial Cell Wall Biosynthesis. Plos One, 5; e15494
Rognoni P, Chiarelli LR, Comincini S, Azzalin A, Miracco C, Valentini G. (2010). Biochemical signatures of doppel (Dpl) protein in human glioblastoma to support prediction in tumor malignancy. J Biomed Biotechnol, 2010: 301067
Scotti C, Sommi P, Pasquetto MV, Cappelletti D, Stivala S, Mignosi P, Savio M, Chiarelli LR, Valentini G, Bolanos-Garcia VM, Merrell DS, Franchini S, Verona ML, Bolis C, Solcia E, Manca R, Franciotta D, Casasco A, Filipazzi P, Zardini E, Vannini V (2010). Cell-cycle inhibition by Helicobacter pylori L-asparaginase. Plos One, 5: e13892
Cappelletti D, Chiarelli L, Pasquetto MV, Stivala S, Valentini G, Scotti C (2008). Helicobacter pylori L-asparaginase: A promising chemotherapeutic agent. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 377: 1222-1226
Chiarelli LR, Morera SM, Galizzi A, Fermo E, Zanella A, Valentini G. (2008). Molecular basis of pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase deficiency caused by 3 newly identified missense mutations (c.187T>C, c.469G>C and c.740T>C) and a tabulation of known mutations. Blood Cell Mol Dis, 40: 295-301
Project Title:
Functional analysis of human pathological variants of erythrocyte enzymes
The research is focused on the biochemical characterization of human defective enzymes accountable for hereditary non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia. The main aim of these studies is to understand the molecular bases of enzymatic deficiencies. The understanding of the enzyme abnormalities can also represents a tool for providing families with genetic counseling.
The enzymes are produced with genetic engineering techniques, purified to homogeneity and characterized. The comparison of the molecular, kinetic and thermostability properties of the mutant forms with those of the wild-type enzymes allows to point out the molecular alterations caused by mutations and correlate the genotype with the clinical phenotype.
Presently, the enzymes under investigation are mutant forms of phosphoglycerate kinase type 1.
The enzymes are produced with genetic engineering techniques, purified to homogeneity and characterized. The comparison of the molecular, kinetic and thermostability properties of the mutant forms with those of the wild-type enzymes allows to point out the molecular alterations caused by mutations and correlate the genotype with the clinical phenotype.
Presently, the enzymes under investigation are mutant forms of phosphoglycerate kinase type 1.