AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

• Calcium signaling
• Biosensors for calcium and calcium imaging
• Lentiviral transgenesis
• Neurodegeneration

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Currently I′m focused on deregulation of calcium homeostasis in neuronal pathology.

The main topics of my research are:

• Calcium homeostasis and mitochondrial dysfunction in Huntingtons Disease.
• Control of neuronal calcium homeostasis by the transcriptional repressor DREAM.
• Study of mutations of the plasma-membrane calcium-pump isoform 2 causing hereditary deafness.

To study neuronal Ca2+ signaling in our Lab we use combination of such powerful methodologies as the lentiviral gene transfer technology and the aequorin-based Ca2+ measurement technique. We monitor Ca2+ dynamics directly within different intracellular locations, such us the cytoplasm, the mitochondrial matrix, the sub-plasma membrane space, the ER lumen and others. We also use state-of-the-art tools of cell and molecular biology including primary neruronal cultures, confocal microscopy, quantitative real-time PCR and others.

News and Events

Fedrizzi L, Lim D, Carafoli E, Brini M. Interplay of the Ca2+-binding protein DREAM with presenilin in neuronal Ca2+ signaling. J Biol Chem. 2008, 283:27494-503.

Di Leva F, Domi T, Fedrizzi L, Lim D, Carafoli E. The plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase of animal cells: structure, function and regulation. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2008, 476:65-74.

Spiden SL, Bortolozzi M, Di Leva F, de Angelis MH, Fuchs H, Lim D, Ortolano S, Ingham NJ, Brini M, Carafoli E, Mammano F, Steel KP. The novel mouse mutation Oblivion inactivates the PMCA2 pump and causes progressive hearing loss. PLoS Genet. 2008, 4:e1000238.