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Animal
Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics
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Mammals and insect cytogenetics
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Evolution and chromosome organization
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Sex and evolution of sex
chromosomes
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Repetitive DNAs: satellite
DNA and transposable elements
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Mitochondrial DNA
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Molecular phylogenies
Molecular basis of primary
microcephaly (MCPH). Contribution of MCPH genes to chromosome division and
cell cycle progression.
Primary microcephaly (MCPH)
is a rare congenital disorder characterized by a pronounced reduction of brain
size and mental retardation. Mutations in MCPH1, one of the genes involved in
this syndrome, alter the processes of chromosome condensation and biorientation
during mitosis in all cell types. Recent data highlight the importance of MCPH1
also for the functionality of G2/M cell cycle checkpoints. Our research aims to
investigate the contribution of MCPH1 and related factors for coupling
chromosome division and cell cycle progression. These investigations will add
new insights about the importance of this crosstalk in the context of human
neurogenesis.
Cell, molecular and immunological research in celiac
disease
Celiac disease is an
autoimmune condition triggered by the ingestion of gluten, the protein fraction
of wheat, barley and rye. It is not simply an intestinal disease; it is
multifactorial caused by many different genetic factors acting together with
non-genetic causes. Similar to other autoimmune diseases, celiac disease is a
polygenic disorder for which the major histocompatibility complex locus is the
most important genetic factor, and is the result of an immune response to self-antigens
leading to tissue destruction and the autoantibodies production. Celiac disease
exemplifies how an illness can have autoimmune-like features having to be drive
by exogenous antigen and how can be reasonably consider as a model of organ-specific
autoimmunity.
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