Michelangelo C

Biography

The core of our research focuses on the understanding of mitochondrial function, metabolism and quality control regulation in mammals and organism models such as the Zebrafish. The bulk of our research stands on two fundamental concepts associated with the biology of mitochondria lying at the basis of cellular health: energy and quality. Pathways and molecules that may concomitantly impinge on both these aspects are therefore object of our attention aiming to provide information on key aspects of normal and abnormal cell function.  Mitochondria play a central role in the pathologies of the central nervous system associated to progressive and irreversible degeneration of tissues –especially in those ageing related. In the same way, given the constant evasion of programmed cell death and metabolic switch, mitochondria are central for cell development. There are two principal topics on which our research activity is based upon: - The glycolytic driven metabolism and the reversion of the mitochondrial F1Fo-ATPsynthase in mammalian and non-mammalian neuronal cells physiopathology. - The functional role of the mitochondrial Translocator Protein (mTSPO) in the upset of metabolism and self-conservation mechanisms guarding the brain cells integrity. By these lines of research, we are forming a novel conceptual and experimental framework to a) characterize neglected regulatory pathways underlying cell physiology as well as the onset and progression of diseases with the goal to b) identify bio-markers for diagnostic purposes and c) molecular targets for therapeutic intervention.

Research Interest

Metabolism in Brain Diseases