Team:
Matteo de Rosa, Michela Bollati, Mario Milani
Collaborators:
Carlo Camilloni (University of Milano) Alessio Bonucci (CNRS, Marseille) Marten Beeg (Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milano)
Gelsolin, the prototype of a superfamily of calcium-dependent proteins, regulates actin dynamics through its severing, capping, and nucleating activities. Due to its essential functions and ubiquitous presence, gelsolin plays a key role in various physiological processes, including cell motility, division, organelle trafficking. Emerging evidence also highlights its involvement in cell metabolism and signaling through actin-independent mechanisms.
Alterations in gelsolin expression levels or dysregulation of its activity have been implicated in numerous diseases, particularly cancers. The GSN project integrates structural, biochemical, and biophysical approaches to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying gelsolin-related diseases and to provide a detailed structural characterization of its physiological functions. Concurrently, we design and screen gelsolin inhibitors and stabilizers to develop novel therapeutic strategies targeting gelsolin-associated conditions.
Funding:
PRIN 2022, MOSBRI, CNR-IRFMN agreement
