Fabrizio Gianguzza
e-mail: gianfab AT unipa.it
affiliation: Dip. STEMBIO
research area(s): Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology
Course:
Cell Biology
University/Istitution: Università di Palermo
University/Istitution: Università di Palermo
1973 - Degree in Biological Science with full marks
1975/1980 -PostDoc at Comparative Anatomy Institute- University of Palermo
1980/2000 Research steady worker at Cellular and Developmental Biology Department- University of Palermo
1990/1996 Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology at University of Palermo- Science Faculty
1996/2000 Assistant Professor of Advanced Molecular Biology at University of Palermo- Science Faculty
1999/2000 Assistant Professor of Recombinant Technologies at University of Palermo- Science Faculty
2000 Associated Professor of Molecular Biology at University of Palermo- Science Faculty
Main interest fields on sea urchin transcriptional regulation (early histone genes; alpha and beta tubulin genes), on deciliation and heavy metal stress response in sea urchin model; on interferon response of different HCV genotypes; on genetical and molecular causes of lipid disease.
Researches was supported by MIUR (ex 60%, ex 40%, COFIN) founds, CNR founds and Palermo University ( Italian-Russian International Collaboration) found, early as group member then as group leader.
Member of the F.I.S.V. (Italian Association of Life Science)
Member of organizing committee of the I° International Meeting on sea urchin (1986)
"Visiting Professor" (1993) at Belozersky Institute of Moscov Unoiversity
Speaker at O.N.B (National Biologist Association) updated courses (1996,1998,1999)
Speaker at International ICRO/UNESCO course (1997)
Speaker at at XIV Internotional O.N.B. Meeting (2001)
Speaker at International ICRO/UNESCO course "Cellular and Molecular Techniques in Marine Invertebrates" (2004)
Member of Scientic Committee (2005/2010) for distribution of 60% MIUR/University founds
1975/1980 -PostDoc at Comparative Anatomy Institute- University of Palermo
1980/2000 Research steady worker at Cellular and Developmental Biology Department- University of Palermo
1990/1996 Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology at University of Palermo- Science Faculty
1996/2000 Assistant Professor of Advanced Molecular Biology at University of Palermo- Science Faculty
1999/2000 Assistant Professor of Recombinant Technologies at University of Palermo- Science Faculty
2000 Associated Professor of Molecular Biology at University of Palermo- Science Faculty
Main interest fields on sea urchin transcriptional regulation (early histone genes; alpha and beta tubulin genes), on deciliation and heavy metal stress response in sea urchin model; on interferon response of different HCV genotypes; on genetical and molecular causes of lipid disease.
Researches was supported by MIUR (ex 60%, ex 40%, COFIN) founds, CNR founds and Palermo University ( Italian-Russian International Collaboration) found, early as group member then as group leader.
Member of the F.I.S.V. (Italian Association of Life Science)
Member of organizing committee of the I° International Meeting on sea urchin (1986)
"Visiting Professor" (1993) at Belozersky Institute of Moscov Unoiversity
Speaker at O.N.B (National Biologist Association) updated courses (1996,1998,1999)
Speaker at International ICRO/UNESCO course (1997)
Speaker at at XIV Internotional O.N.B. Meeting (2001)
Speaker at International ICRO/UNESCO course "Cellular and Molecular Techniques in Marine Invertebrates" (2004)
Member of Scientic Committee (2005/2010) for distribution of 60% MIUR/University founds
1. Gene transcriptional regulation in sea urchin.
Alpha- and beta-tubulin are fundamental components of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton and cell division machinery. Tubulin expression is carefully controlled and most eukaryotes express multiple tubulin genes in specific regulatory or developmental contexts. The PlTalpha2 is a sea urchin P.lividus gene coding for a neural isotype of alpha tubulin. In fact, alpha2 transcript is expressed starting from blastula stage and it is localized to the neural cells that at pluteus stage constitute the ciliary band and the ganglia.
We study the tubulin gene (in particular PlTalpha2) expression regulation utilizing many different approaches, both biochemical (EMSA, footprinting) and functional (gene transfer experiments), to identify cis –acting elements. We perform also DNaseI hypersensitivity studies and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation assays to look at the promoter chromatin structure.
Moreover, to identify gene regulatory elements, we use a combination of bioinformatic approaches such as comparative genomics and phylogenetic footprinting.
2. Molecular biology approaches to understanding stress response mechanisms
Heavy metals have many toxic effects on marine organisms. In particular sea urchin embryos grown in 1 mM cadmium cloride fail to develop normally. We study the early defense strategies activated by P. lividus 30 hours phenotypically normal embryos, in response to exposition to lower doses of cadmium, analyzing the induced transcriptome and comparing it to that of control embryos by RDA technique and subsequent quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Bioinformatics tools are frequently utilized to analyze the results.
Alpha- and beta-tubulin are fundamental components of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton and cell division machinery. Tubulin expression is carefully controlled and most eukaryotes express multiple tubulin genes in specific regulatory or developmental contexts. The PlTalpha2 is a sea urchin P.lividus gene coding for a neural isotype of alpha tubulin. In fact, alpha2 transcript is expressed starting from blastula stage and it is localized to the neural cells that at pluteus stage constitute the ciliary band and the ganglia.
We study the tubulin gene (in particular PlTalpha2) expression regulation utilizing many different approaches, both biochemical (EMSA, footprinting) and functional (gene transfer experiments), to identify cis –acting elements. We perform also DNaseI hypersensitivity studies and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation assays to look at the promoter chromatin structure.
Moreover, to identify gene regulatory elements, we use a combination of bioinformatic approaches such as comparative genomics and phylogenetic footprinting.
2. Molecular biology approaches to understanding stress response mechanisms
Heavy metals have many toxic effects on marine organisms. In particular sea urchin embryos grown in 1 mM cadmium cloride fail to develop normally. We study the early defense strategies activated by P. lividus 30 hours phenotypically normal embryos, in response to exposition to lower doses of cadmium, analyzing the induced transcriptome and comparing it to that of control embryos by RDA technique and subsequent quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Bioinformatics tools are frequently utilized to analyze the results.
Emanuele,M., Costa,S., Ragusa,MA., and Gianguzza F., (2011) Chromatin dynamic of the developmentally regulated P. lividus neural alpha tubulin gene (accepted by Int. J. Dev. Biol.)
Ragusa MA., Emanuele M., Costa S., and Gianguzza F. (2011) In silico characterization of the sea urchin P. lividus Pl-Tubalfa2 promoter by phylogenetic footprinting. Molecular Biology Reports on line pub. DOI 10.1007/s11033-011-1016-7
Gianguzza P., Agnetta D., Bonaviri C., Di Trapani F., Visconti G., Gianguzza F. and Riggio S. (2011) The rise of thermophilic sea urchins and the expansion of barren grounds in the Mediterranean Sea. Chemistry and Ecology 27/2: 129–134 ISSN 0275-7540 DOI: 10.1080/02757540.2010.547484
Costa S, Nicosia A, Ragusa MA, Cefalù AB, Pollaccia D, Noto D, Averna M, and Gianguzza F. (2010). A novel putative interactor for the low density lipoprotein receptor cytoplasmic domain. MOLECULAR MEDICINE REPORTS, vol. 3 (Marzo/Aprile); p. 341-345, ISSN: 1791-2997, doi:10.3892/mmr_00000263
Tagliavia M, Nicosia A, Gianguzza F. (2009). Complete decontamination and regeneration of DNA purification silica colum. ANALYTICAL BIOCHEMISTRY, vol. 385(1); p. 182-183, ISSN: 0003-2697, doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2008.10.021
Gianguzza P, Badalamenti F, Gianguzza F., Bonaviri C, Riggio S (2009). The operational sex ratio of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus populations: the case of the Mediterranean marine protected area of Ustica Island (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy. MARINE ECOLOGY, vol.30; p. 125-132, ISSN:0173-9565,
Casano C, Savona R, Ragusa M.A, Bosco L, Gianguzza F. (2008). p38 MAPK activation is required for Paracentrotus lividus skeletogenesis. CARYOLOGIA, vol. 61/1; p. 74-81, ISSN: 0008-7114
Di Liegro C.M, Agnello M, Casano C, Roccheri MC, Gianguzza F. (2008). Hsp56 protein and mRNA distribution in normal and stressed P. lividus embryos. CARYOLOGIA, vol. 61/1; p. 82-87, ISSN: 0008-7114
Cefalù A.B, Barraco G, Noto D, Valenti V, Barbagallo C.M, Elisir G.D, Cuniberti L.A, Werba J.P, Libra M, Costa S, Gianguzza F., Notarbartolo A, Travali S, Averna M.R. (2006). Six novel mutations of the LDL receptor gene in FH kindred of Sicilian and Paraguayan descent. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE. vol. 17(3), pp. 539-546 ISSN: 1107-3756.
Ragusa MA, Costa S, Cefalu AB, Noto D, Fayer F, Travali S, Averna MR, Gianguzza F. (2006). RT-PCR and in situ hybridization analysis of apolipoprotein H expression in rat normal tissues. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE. vol. 18(3), pp. 449-455 ISSN: 1107-3756.
S.Costa, M.A. Ragusa, G.Drago, C.Casano, G. Alaimo, N.Guida, Gianguzza F. (2004). Sea urchin neural alpha2 tubulin gene: isolation and promoter analysis. BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS. vol. 316/2, pp. 446-453 ISSN: 0006-291X.
Casano C., Gianguzza F., Roccheri M.C., Di Giorgi R., Maenza L, Ragusa M.A. (2003). Hsp40 is involved in cilia regeneration in sea urchin embryos. JOURNAL OF HISTOCHEMISTRY & CYTOCHEMISTRY. vol. 51(12), pp. 1581-1587 ISSN: 0022-1554.
Casano C., Roccheri M.C., Maenza L., Migliore S., Gianguzza F. (2003). Sea urchin deciliation induces thermoresistance and activate the p38 map kinase pathway. CELL STRESS & CHAPERONES. vol. 8(1), pp. 70-75 ISSN: 1355-8145.
Ragusa MA., Emanuele M., Costa S., and Gianguzza F. (2011) In silico characterization of the sea urchin P. lividus Pl-Tubalfa2 promoter by phylogenetic footprinting. Molecular Biology Reports on line pub. DOI 10.1007/s11033-011-1016-7
Gianguzza P., Agnetta D., Bonaviri C., Di Trapani F., Visconti G., Gianguzza F. and Riggio S. (2011) The rise of thermophilic sea urchins and the expansion of barren grounds in the Mediterranean Sea. Chemistry and Ecology 27/2: 129–134 ISSN 0275-7540 DOI: 10.1080/02757540.2010.547484
Costa S, Nicosia A, Ragusa MA, Cefalù AB, Pollaccia D, Noto D, Averna M, and Gianguzza F. (2010). A novel putative interactor for the low density lipoprotein receptor cytoplasmic domain. MOLECULAR MEDICINE REPORTS, vol. 3 (Marzo/Aprile); p. 341-345, ISSN: 1791-2997, doi:10.3892/mmr_00000263
Tagliavia M, Nicosia A, Gianguzza F. (2009). Complete decontamination and regeneration of DNA purification silica colum. ANALYTICAL BIOCHEMISTRY, vol. 385(1); p. 182-183, ISSN: 0003-2697, doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2008.10.021
Gianguzza P, Badalamenti F, Gianguzza F., Bonaviri C, Riggio S (2009). The operational sex ratio of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus populations: the case of the Mediterranean marine protected area of Ustica Island (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy. MARINE ECOLOGY, vol.30; p. 125-132, ISSN:0173-9565,
Casano C, Savona R, Ragusa M.A, Bosco L, Gianguzza F. (2008). p38 MAPK activation is required for Paracentrotus lividus skeletogenesis. CARYOLOGIA, vol. 61/1; p. 74-81, ISSN: 0008-7114
Di Liegro C.M, Agnello M, Casano C, Roccheri MC, Gianguzza F. (2008). Hsp56 protein and mRNA distribution in normal and stressed P. lividus embryos. CARYOLOGIA, vol. 61/1; p. 82-87, ISSN: 0008-7114
Cefalù A.B, Barraco G, Noto D, Valenti V, Barbagallo C.M, Elisir G.D, Cuniberti L.A, Werba J.P, Libra M, Costa S, Gianguzza F., Notarbartolo A, Travali S, Averna M.R. (2006). Six novel mutations of the LDL receptor gene in FH kindred of Sicilian and Paraguayan descent. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE. vol. 17(3), pp. 539-546 ISSN: 1107-3756.
Ragusa MA, Costa S, Cefalu AB, Noto D, Fayer F, Travali S, Averna MR, Gianguzza F. (2006). RT-PCR and in situ hybridization analysis of apolipoprotein H expression in rat normal tissues. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE. vol. 18(3), pp. 449-455 ISSN: 1107-3756.
S.Costa, M.A. Ragusa, G.Drago, C.Casano, G. Alaimo, N.Guida, Gianguzza F. (2004). Sea urchin neural alpha2 tubulin gene: isolation and promoter analysis. BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS. vol. 316/2, pp. 446-453 ISSN: 0006-291X.
Casano C., Gianguzza F., Roccheri M.C., Di Giorgi R., Maenza L, Ragusa M.A. (2003). Hsp40 is involved in cilia regeneration in sea urchin embryos. JOURNAL OF HISTOCHEMISTRY & CYTOCHEMISTRY. vol. 51(12), pp. 1581-1587 ISSN: 0022-1554.
Casano C., Roccheri M.C., Maenza L., Migliore S., Gianguzza F. (2003). Sea urchin deciliation induces thermoresistance and activate the p38 map kinase pathway. CELL STRESS & CHAPERONES. vol. 8(1), pp. 70-75 ISSN: 1355-8145.
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