The Catania site of the CNR Institute of Crystallography combines advanced skills in chemistry and biology to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying socially impactful diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and type 2 diabetes, and to develop new tools for their prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. The unit integrates expertise in peptide synthesis, calorimetry, potentiometry, cyclic voltammetry, electron spin resonance, mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, thermodynamics, biochemistry, and cellular biology, complemented by advanced imaging techniques, proteomics analyses, and gene expression modulation.
Research activities range from the design and synthesis of model peptides to study protein misfolding and interaction with transition metals, to the thermodynamic characterization of fibrillogenic systems and artificial lipid membranes. The group develops new bioconjugates and multifunctional anti-fibrillogenic molecules capable of counteracting protein aggregation and oxidative stress, with potential applications in protein conformational disorder diseases related to aging.
A key research area focuses on studying the biological properties of non-natural regulatory peptides. The effects of cross-talk between the proteome and metallome are analyzed, with attention to metals such as copper and zinc and the role of ionophoric peptides in modulating cellular signals and trophic factors.
The group also develops new molecular and nanotechnological systems for diagnostics, targeted drug delivery, and theragnostic applications oriented towards personalized medicine. Among the most advanced lines of research is the study of proteostasis and the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System (UPS) as a therapeutic target in oncological and neurodegenerative diseases, with particular attention to the impact of metal dyshomeostasis and the potential modulators of specific molecules that can enhance proteasome activity.
Finally, another line of research focuses on the beta-amyloid (Aβ) peptide, investigating both its pathological effects and its still poorly understood physiological role, using in vitro neuronal models to identify new therapeutic targets for Alzheimer’s disease.
