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Sabato D’AuriaResearch DirectorDirect: +39 0825 299101
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Research InterestsThe Laboratory for Molecular Sensing
The main interest of the laboratory is on understanding the rules underlying the folding of proteins and how their structure is modified by the interaction with other proteins, nucleic acids and small ligand molecules. To approach these issues we use, and occasionally develop, new, advanced optical methodologies. The acquired knowledge in protein structure is used for the design of innovative diagnostic methods and for other biotechnology applications. The focus is to develop and apply advanced luminescence methodologies and optical measurements to solve questions of biochemical and medical interests. In particular, our interests are focused on the study at a molecular level of the interactions involving proteins, enzymes, nuclei acids as well as small ligand molecules for contributing to shed light to the fields of proteomics, post-proteomics, interatomic and bio/sensing. Our lab is equipped with the state-of-art instrumentations for investigating biological interactions by means of FRET, time-resolved FRET, fluorescence polarization, anisotropy decays, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy for single molecule detection, surface plasmon resonance, circular dichroism in the far- and near-UV regions, stopped-flow methodologies, metal enhanced fluorescence. In addition, the Lab has core collaborations in the fields of bioinformatics, atomic force microscopy, linear spectroscopy, material engineering, and nanotechnology that allow us to handle research projects until they are completely fulfilled. The Lab is also active in the use of fluorescence to quantify structural features of biological molecules even at nano-scale, and, consequently, to design advanced optical biochips, Lab-on-Chip, or simple disposable biosensors for analyses of high social interest (POCT). This capability in biophysical methodologies together with expertise in protein biochemistry, molecular genetics and microbiology allows the research team to challenge cutting-edge biochemical questions as well as to rapidly answer to biotechnological requests from SMEs and public institutions. Keywords: Protein structure and stability; Biosensors; Diagnostic tools; POCT;
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Key PublicationsPublications (Last five years) 171. Novel biosensors based on optimized glycine oxidase 170. A loose domain swapping organization confers a remarkable stability to the dimeric structure of the Arginine Binding Protein from Thermotoga maritima 169. Characterization of bacterial NMN deamidase as a Ser/Lys hydrolase expands diversity of serine amidohydrolases. 168. An innovative biophotonic gas sensor for the ultra-sensitive detection of DMMP as a simulant of SARIN 167. The mKO: An orange-emitting fluorescence protein. Structure and stability 166 A Surface Plasmon Resonance based biochip for the detection of Patulin Toxin 165. The trehalose/maltose-binding protein as a sensitive element of a glucose biosensor 164. Preparation of surface acoustic wave odor sensors by laser-induced forward transfer 163. Tryptophan-scanning mutagenesis of the ligand binding pocket in Thermotoga maritima arginine-binding protein 162. The Quaternary Structure of the Recombinant Bovine Odorant-Binding Protein is Modulated by Chemical Denaturants 161. Extending the range of FRET: the Monte Carlo study of the antenna effect. 160. Tailoring Odorant-Binding protein coatings characteristics for Surface Acoustic Wave biosensor development 159. Vesicular and non-vesicular glucosylceramide transport feed distinct glycosylation pathways 158. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations to study the structural futures of the maltotriose-binding protein from Thermus thermophilus 157. Physicochemical characterization of a thermostable alcohol dehydrogenase from Pyrobaculum aerophilum 156. Interview with Sabato D’Auria, section editor for Chemical Biology 155. Amino acid transport in thermophiles: characterization of an arginine-binding protein from Thermotoga maritima. 4. A brief thermo-story 154. Structural analysis and Caco-2 cell permeability of the celiac-toxic A-gliadin peptide 31-55. 153. Amino acid transport in thermophiles: characterization of an arginine-binding protein from Thermotoga maritima. 3. Conformational dynamics and stability 152. An Innovative Plastic Optical Fiber-based Biosensor for new Bio/applications. The Case of Celiac Disease 151. Detection of odorant molecules via surface acoustic wave biosensor array based on odorant-binding proteins 150. Under pressure that splits a family in two. The case of lipocalin family 149. A new competitive fluorescence immune-assay for detection of Listeria Monocytogenes 148. A biophotonic sensor for the specific detection of DMMP vapors at the ppb level 147. Determination of benzyl methyl ketone, a commonly used precursor in amphetamine manufacture 146. Alcohol dehydrogenase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrobaculum aerophilum: Stability at high temperature 145. Engineering resonance energy transfer for advanced immunoassays: The case of celiac disease 144. Fluorescence-Baserd Biosensors 143. Porous silicon wafer-based “lab on chip” sensor 142. A surface plasmon resonance-based biochip to reveal traces of ephedrine 141. D-Serine-Dehydratase from Saccaromyces cerevisiae. A Pyridoxal -5’-phosphate-Dependent Enzyme for Advanced Biotech Applications 140. Extending Förster resonance energy transfer measurements beyond 100 Å using common organic fluorophores: enhanced transfer in the presence of multiple acceptors. 139. New insight in protein-ligand interactions. 2. Stability and properties of two mutant forms of the D-galactose/D-glucose-binding protein from E. coli. 138. Long-distance FRET analysis: a Monte Carlo simulation study. 137. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of ligand-free and arginine-bound forms of Thermotoga maritima arginine-binding protein. 136. New insight into protein-ligand interactions. The case of the D-galactose/D-glucose-binding protein from E. coli. 135. Myoglobobin as a fluorescence probe to sense H2S 134. Absorption into fluorescence. A method to sense biologically relevant gas molecules 133. The archeal topoisomerase reverse girase is a helix-destabilizing protein that unwinds four-way DNA functions 132. Denaturation of Proteins with beta-barrel topology induced by guanidinium hydrochloride. 131.High stability of trehalose/maltose binding protein from Thermococcus litoralis makes it a good candidate as a sensitive element in biosensor systems for sugar control. 130. Structure and stability of D-galactose/D-glucose-binding protein. The role of D-glucose binding and Ca ion depletion 129. Properties and evolution of an alcohol dehydrogenase from the Crenarchaeota Pyrobaculum aerophilum. 128. Amino acid transport in thermophiles: characterization of an arginine-binding protein in Thermotoga maritima. 2. Molecular organization and structural stability 127. New trends in bio/nanotechnology. Stable proteins as advanced molecular tools for health and environment 126. Crystal structure of an S-formylglutathione hydrolase from Pseudoalteronomas haloplanktis TAC 125 125. Human galectin-3 interacts with two anticancer drugs: a spectroscopic study 124. Amino acid transport in thermophiles: characterization of an arginine-binding protein in Thermotoga maritime 123 Surface acoustic wave biosensor based on a recombinant bovine odorant-binding protein 122. Nanostructured silver-based surfaces: new emergent methodologies for an easy detection of analytes 121. Pressure Effects on the structure and stability and of the hyperthermophilic trehalose/maltose-binding protein from Thermococcus litoralis 120. Tumor specific protein human galectin-1interacts with anticancer agents 119. FCS-based sensing for the detection of Ocratoxin A and Neomycin in food 118. Structure and dynamics of cold-adapted enzymes as investigated by phosphorescence spectroscopy and molecular dynamics studies. 2. The case of an esterase from Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis” 117. Structure and stability of a rat odorant-binding protein. Another brick in the wall” 116. Structure and Dynamics of Cold-Adapted Enzymes as Investigated by FT-IR Spectroscopy and MD. The Case of an Esterase from Pseudoalteromonas haloplankti |
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Research GroupPersonnel A strength of the Lab and associated personnel is their many years of experience in biochemistry/molecular genetics and fluorescence spectroscopy. This group collectively has 100 man/years of experience in fluorescence spectroscopy and biochemistry/ molecular genetics and has authored a large number of manuscripts on this topic. Actually, the Lab plays an important role in excellence networks of European labs for the physical-chemical characterization of biomolecules under severe conditions. The Lab is also member of several European Consortia for the development of frontier methodologies for monitoring food safety and homeland security and Point of Care Tests (PoCT). To testify the high standard levels reached from the Lab, we are proud to announce that some of the research projects of the Lab have recently gained the front pages of nine international Journals. On July 1st 2007 the American Chemical Society has published a RESEARCH PROFILE on the activity of the Lab (Analytical Chemistry 2007 July 1, page 4746) underlying the cutting-edge results obtained on the detection of traces gluten in food for celiac patients.
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