Multimedia

SISSI-Bio is the chemical and life science branch of the infrared beamline at Elettra.

In this presentation the most relevant features and instruments of SISSI-Bio will be introduced, focusing on the application of infrared vibrational spectroscopy on topics relevant for the PRP@CERIC project: IR cytology and IR histology for cell and tissue analysis, respectively.

The ultimate aim of the presentation is to introduce the audience to the approach for identifying common area of interest and synergic actions toward the PRP@CERIC goal.

Speaker: Lisa Vaccari, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste

In this contribution, Ms. Rossi provides an overview of the basic principles of UV resonance Raman spectroscopy and its possible applications in the investigation of biological specimens.

A description is provided of the advantages and challenges of this technique, representing a unique label-free tool for non-invasive study of nucleic acids, proteins, organic samples and pathogens.

The portfolio of the multi-wavelengths UV Raman setups available on the IUVS beamline at Elettra Sincrotrone is presented.

Special focus is given to the instrumental upgrades planned in the framework of PRP@Ceric and Elettra 2.0.

Speaker: Barbara Rossi, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste

The seminar presents the application of an integrative structural biology approach to the field of neurotrophins.

The interaction of ATP with both mature NGF and its precursor was investigated with solution NMR and a set of complementary biophysical and computational methodologies.

The used methods are briefly presented, as well as the scientific results.

From these data, it was possible to identify the role of ATP in modulating the neurotrophin biology and this can explain some features of neurodegeneration.

Speaker: Francesca Paoletti, Institute of Crystallography – CNR

Artificial Cell membrane mimetic platforms to assess extracellular vesicles/pathogens-cell interaction.

Speaker: Loredana Casalis, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste

Over the last 20 years the emphasis in structural biology has shifted from the technique (crystallography, NMR, etc..) to biological issues.

Due to a number of technical advances in both biology and structural analysis, the size and complexity of the macromolecular targets have systematically increased.

In a number of cases, this has required the combination of multiple techniques, to be used in an integrated approach, to fully understand the structure, function and dynamics of the biological complex.

This is particularly true for protein-nucleic acid complexes, which often show a degree of polymorphism, multiple conformations, presence of disordered regions, a multiplicity of alternative substrates, and so on.

Mrs. Onesti’s research is focused on a number of proteins involved in basic genetic processes, including DNA replication, DNA repair, transcription and translation.

In particular, she has focused on helicases, which are molecular motors able to unwind a variety of nucleic acid substrates (DNA, RNA, G-quadruplexes, R-loops, etc..); being essential in nucleic acid metabolism they are becoming novel targets for anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-tumor drugs.

The talk covers some of the recent projects, focusing on the use of a combination of macromolecular crystallography and single particle electron microscopy to understand the structure and function of a number of DNA and RNA helicases involved in replication and repair, and thus involved in genetic diseases, cancer development and progression and aging.

Speaker: Silvia Onesti, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste

Prevention of virus infection can be performed following different strategies, from the development of effective vaccines to the reduction of the vector in the case of insects-borne viral infection.

All these strategies rely on a deep knowledge of the biology of the virus.

For instance, development of new vaccines requires the characterization of the structure that the viral proteins assume during the different steps of the viral cycle.

Also, antiviral molecules can be used not only as a cure but also as prevention tools when directly expressed in insect vectors.

Speaker: Giuditta De Lorenzo, RIT – Area Science Park

In Elettra’s Structural Biology Laboratory, a protein production platform has been active for almost 10 years, acting as a facility supporting external users from academic and industrial labs in producing and characterizing proteins for structural biology applications.

The talk presents the rationale behind the establishment of the Facility, describing how it evolved and its present organization and capabilities.

The most significative results are presented, focusing on structural based drug discovery projects, including drug targets as kinases, SARS-CoV2 proteases, and less standard ones, as glycogen targeting protein.

Future developments and instruments’ implementation planned within the PRP@CERIC project are presented to the partner community.

The aim of the talk is to inform the interested community of existing competences at the Protein Facility to stimulate proficient collaborations.

Speaker: Paola Storici, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste

The International Center for Genetic and Biotechnology (ICGEB)’s Molecular Virology Laboratory of Trieste, directed by Alessandro Marcello is responsible for understanding infection and cellular response mechanisms connected to emerging human pathogenic viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.

Basic research activity stimulates technology transfer in the research of antivirals and in the development of diagnostic and surveillance techniques necessary for the containment of infections, especially in countries with limited public health resources.

Speaker: Alessandro Marcello, ICGEB

The seminar starts with a brief description of the Trieste branch of the Istituto di Cristallografia (CNR) and it is followed by a short introduction to Macromolecular Crystallography and its strength and weakness.

Finally, few examples are reported, taken from the personal research activities of the speaker, showing how Macromolecular Crystallography has been of help in shedding light on specific biological problems.

Speaker: Alberto Cassetta, Istituto di Cristallografia – CNR

Machine Learning techniques help address a variety of problems in the field of structural biology.

In this talk, I will provide an overview of the work we have been conducting over the past few months and our ongoing research at the Laboratory of Data Engineering at Area Science Park.

Our research primarily revolves around protein sequences, with a specific emphasis on Protein Language Models and their significant potential in diverse biological applications.

Speaker: Francesca Cuturello, Area Science Park

Il laser a elettroni liberi FERMI è l’unico al mondo in grado in grado di fornire informazioni dettagliate sulla struttura e sulla dinamica delle molecole, aprendo nuove prospettive nella ricerca di base e applicata.

Grazie a questa eccezionale capacità è stato possibile “fotografare”, nel corso di un processo ultraveloce, il contributo di singoli atomi alla chiralità di una molecola. Questa proprietà è essenziale per applicazioni nella scienza dei materiali e nella farmaceutica e conoscerne più in dettaglio le caratteristiche consentirà di capire meglio l’interazione delle molecole con i tessuti biologici e di disegnare nuovi farmaci più efficaci.

L’esperimento, guidato dal Cnr-Ifn ed eseguito presso i laboratori di Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste in Area Science Park, è stato pubblicato su Physical Review X.

Ne abbiamo parlato con Caterina Vozzi, direttrice del Cnr-Ifn.