Giancola Concetta

Biography

Prof.ssa Concetta Giancola is co-author of 126 scientific publications in international journals and over 150 contributions in the form of oral communications or posters at national and international congresses. His scientific work, led by the Physics Group of the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Naples Federico II, mainly concerns the study and application of experimental and theoretical techniques aimed at the chemical-physical characterization of the thermodynamic stability of biological macromolecules and the energy of their interaction with molecules of therapeutic interest. Calorimetric techniques such as isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and spectroscopic techniques (fluorescence, UV, circular dichroism, etc.) were applied in combination with molecular mechanics and dynamics in the study of the interaction of potent drugs with nucleic acids, with particular attention to unconventional secondary DNA structures (G-quadruplex) having a major role in gene promoters and in the terminal part of chromosomes, telomeres. A related research line concerns the biophysical study of aptamers, structured in G-quadruplex, capable of binding to specific proteins by modulating or inhibiting biological activity, thus acting as highly selective drugs. The research also focused on the study of different proteins, both by experimental and computational methods, and in particular by enzymes, in order to understand the thermodynamic stability at the basis of the biological processes in which they are involved. A related research line concerns the biophysical study of aptamers, structured in G-quadruplex, capable of binding to specific proteins by modulating or inhibiting biological activity, thus acting as highly selective drugs. The research also focused on the study of different proteins, both by experimental and computational methods, and in particular by enzymes, in order to understand the thermodynamic stability at the basis of the biological processes in which they are involved. A related research line concerns the biophysical study of aptamers, structured in G-quadruplex, capable of binding to specific proteins by modulating or inhibiting biological activity, thus acting as highly selective drugs. The research also focused on the study of different proteins, both by experimental and computational methods, and in particular by enzymes, in order to understand the thermodynamic stability at the basis of the biological processes in which they are involved. In previous years, the research focused on the study of peptide model molecules, aqueous solution or solid state. With isothermal calorimetry, aqueous solutions containing peptide model molecules have been studied in the presence of denaturant classics of proteins or stabilizers. In addition, the thermodynamic properties of solid state model peptides were related to their X-ray diffraction-derived crystalline structure. The results obtained for model molecules were used in part to explain the thermodynamic stability of globular proteins. Recently, research has also been directed to the chemical-physical energetic study of the interactions at the basis of the formation of nanosystems for therapeutic use. These studies are conducted in collaboration with the Prof. Netti Group of the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) of Naples. G-quadruplex physico-chemical studies have allowed Prof. Giancola to play a leading role in the international panorama of the G-quadruplex, allowing a fertile and productive interaction with eminent scientists in this field, such as Brad Chaires of the Brown Cancer Center in Louisville (University of Kentucky, USA) and Stephen Neidle of the School of Pharmacy at the University College of London (UK) and allowed her to participate in recent years in the European Network on G-quartets and quadruplex nucleic acid (COST ACTION MP0802). He was Chairperson of the "Third International Meeting on G-Quadruplex and G-Assembly" held in Sorrento in 2011, organizer of the "COST Action MP0802 Training School" titled "Fundamentals of Guanosine Self-Assembly and Quadruplex Formation" In addition, Professor Giancola is treating as a Guest Editor a Special Issue on G-Quadruplex, at the invitation of the prestigious Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) -General Subjects magazine. For G-quadruplex implications in epigenetic studies and its curriculum, Prof. Giancola has recently been invited to join the European Network on Epigenetic Chemical Biology (COST Action CM-1406). The research activity carried out in the field of physical chemistry and its managerial skills has enabled it to become part of the board of the Physical Chemistry Division of the Italian Chemical Society. For the expertise shown in the field of calorimetric studies and the wide diffusion of these studies at national and international level, Prof.ssa Giancola was elected Coordinator of the Intermediate Group of Calorimetry and Thermal Analysis (GICAT) of the Italian Chemical Society for triennial 2011-13 and 2014-16 and has been invited to join the Scientific Committee of numerous National and International Conferences. Calorimetric studies are also the basis of a bilateral agreement between the University of Naples Federico II and the State University of Chimico-Technological Ivanovo (Russia), of which Prof. Giancola has been a promoter. Prof. Giancola is also treating as the Guest Editor the Special Issue "Recent Development in the Field of Calorimetry, Thermal Analysis and Applied Thermodynamics "of Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry; for the same journal is Associate Editor in the Bio-, Life sciences and Pharmaceuticals subject areas. For the complexity of scientific activity in the field of biocalorimetry, Prof. Giancola was awarded the AICAT-TA Instruments Award by the Italian Association of Calorimetry and Thermal Analysis in 2016 with the following motivation: "For her outstanding contribution to the study of interactions and stability of biomolecules by means of calorimetric techniques. The entire production of published works can be grouped into the following main areas of research: • Chemical-physical studies of micro and nanosystems; • Physico-physical studies of unconventional secondary DNA structures and their interactions with molecules of therapeutic interest; • Chemical-physical studies of thermodynamic stability of proteins; • Thermodynamic properties of peptide model molecules in solution and solid state. STUDY DOCUMENTS December 1983 Laurea in Chimica, University of Naples Federico II. Thesis title: Synthesis of sequential oligopeptides of H-Tyr- (Gln) 3-Pro-OH units. Speaker: Prof. Ettore Benedetti. September 1992 Doctor of Research in Chemistry (IV cycle) University of Naples Federico II. Thesis title: Conformational stability of proteins and enzymes: a thermodynamic study. Tutor: Prof. Guido Barone. ACADEMIC POSITIONS November 1991 - October 2001 University Researcher C02X-Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II. November 2001 - August 2017 Associate Professor of CHIM / 02-Physical Chemistry at the Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences and from 2013 at the Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II. September 2017-Ordinary Professor of CHIM / 02-Physical Chemistry at the Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II

Research Interest

Prof.ssa Concetta Giancola is co-author of 126 scientific publications in international journals and over 150 contributions in the form of oral communications or posters at national and international congresses. His scientific work, led by the Physics Group of the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Naples Federico II, mainly concerns the study and application of experimental and theoretical techniques aimed at the chemical-physical characterization of the thermodynamic stability of biological macromolecules and the energy of their interaction with molecules of therapeutic interest. Calorimetric techniques such as isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and spectroscopic techniques (fluorescence, UV, circular dichroism, etc.) were applied in combination with molecular mechanics and dynamics in the study of the interaction of potent drugs with nucleic acids, with particular attention to unconventional secondary DNA structures (G-quadruplex) having a major role in gene promoters and in the terminal part of chromosomes, telomeres. A related research line concerns the biophysical study of aptamers, structured in G-quadruplex, capable of binding to specific proteins by modulating or inhibiting biological activity, thus acting as highly selective drugs. The research also focused on the study of different proteins, both by experimental and computational methods, and in particular by enzymes, in order to understand the thermodynamic stability at the basis of the biological processes in which they are involved. A related research line concerns the biophysical study of aptamers, structured in G-quadruplex, capable of binding to specific proteins by modulating or inhibiting biological activity, thus acting as highly selective drugs. The research also focused on the study of different proteins, both by experimental and computational methods, and in particular by enzymes, in order to understand the thermodynamic stability at the basis of the biological processes in which they are involved. A related research line concerns the biophysical study of aptamers, structured in G-quadruplex, capable of binding to specific proteins by modulating or inhibiting biological activity, thus acting as highly selective drugs. The research also focused on the study of different proteins, both by experimental and computational methods, and in particular by enzymes, in order to understand the thermodynamic stability at the basis of the biological processes in which they are involved. In previous years, the research focused on the study of peptide model molecules, aqueous solution or solid state. With isothermal calorimetry, aqueous solutions containing peptide model molecules have been studied in the presence of denaturant classics of proteins or stabilizers. In addition, the thermodynamic properties of solid state model peptides were related to their X-ray diffraction-derived crystalline structure. The results obtained for model molecules were used in part to explain the thermodynamic stability of globular proteins. Recently, research has also been directed to the chemical-physical energetic study of the interactions at the basis of the formation of nanosystems for therapeutic use. These studies are conducted in collaboration with the Prof. Netti Group of the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) of Naples. G-quadruplex physico-chemical studies have allowed Prof. Giancola to play a leading role in the international panorama of the G-quadruplex, allowing a fertile and productive interaction with eminent scientists in this field, such as Brad Chaires of the Brown Cancer Center in Louisville (University of Kentucky, USA) and Stephen Neidle of the School of Pharmacy at the University College of London (UK) and allowed her to participate in recent years in the European Network on G-quartets and quadruplex nucleic acid (COST ACTION MP0802). He was Chairperson of the "Third International Meeting on G-Quadruplex and G-Assembly" held in Sorrento in 2011, organizer of the "COST Action MP0802 Training School" titled "Fundamentals of Guanosine Self-Assembly and Quadruplex Formation" In addition, Professor Giancola is treating as a Guest Editor a Special Issue on G-Quadruplex, at the invitation of the prestigious Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) -General Subjects magazine. For G-quadruplex implications in epigenetic studies and its curriculum, Prof. Giancola has recently been invited to join the European Network on Epigenetic Chemical Biology (COST Action CM-1406). The research activity carried out in the field of physical chemistry and its managerial skills has enabled it to become part of the board of the Physical Chemistry Division of the Italian Chemical Society. For the expertise shown in the field of calorimetric studies and the wide diffusion of these studies at national and international level, Prof.ssa Giancola was elected Coordinator of the Intermediate Group of Calorimetry and Thermal Analysis (GICAT) of the Italian Chemical Society for triennial 2011-13 and 2014-16 and has been invited to join the Scientific Committee of numerous National and International Conferences. Calorimetric studies are also the basis of a bilateral agreement between the University of Naples Federico II and the State University of Chimico-Technological Ivanovo (Russia), of which Prof. Giancola has been a promoter. Prof. Giancola is also treating as the Guest Editor the Special Issue "Recent Development in the Field of Calorimetry, Thermal Analysis and Applied Thermodynamics "of Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry; for the same journal is Associate Editor in the Bio-, Life sciences and Pharmaceuticals subject areas. For the complexity of scientific activity in the field of biocalorimetry, Prof. Giancola was awarded the AICAT-TA Instruments Award by the Italian Association of Calorimetry and Thermal Analysis in 2016 with the following motivation: "For her outstanding contribution to the study of interactions and stability of biomolecules by means of calorimetric techniques. The entire production of published jobs can be grouped into the following main research areas: For the complexity of scientific activity in the field of biocalorimetry, Prof. Giancola was awarded the AICAT-TA Instruments Award by the Italian Association of Calorimetry and Thermal Analysis in 2016 with the following motivation: "For her outstanding contribution to the study of interactions and stability of biomolecules by means of calorimetric techniques. The entire production of published jobs can be grouped into the following main research areas: For the complexity of scientific activity in the field of biocalorimetry, Prof. Giancola was awarded the AICAT-TA Instruments Award by the Italian Association of Calorimetry and Thermal Analysis in 2016 with the following motivation: "For her outstanding contribution to the study of interactions and stability of biomolecules by means of calorimetric techniques. The entire production of published jobs can be grouped into the following main research areas: • Chemical and physical studies of micro and nanosystems; • Physico-physical studies of unconventional secondary DNA structures and their interactions with molecules of therapeutic interest; • Chemical-physical studies of thermodynamic stability of proteins; • Thermodynamic properties of peptide model molecules in solution and solid state.