Ennio Prosperi


Istituto di Genetica Molecolare “Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza” – CNR
Via Abbiategrasso, 207
27100 Pavia
Phone: 0382 986267

E-mail: elnnio.prosperi@igm.cnr.it

Curriculum Vitae – Download

Complete List of Publications – Download


Research Activity

Genome integrity and cell cycle checkpoints

The cellular DNA damage response (known as DDR) includes the activation of cell cycle checkpoints, to induce cell cycle arrest, and of DNA repair pathways to remove lesions from the genome. These mechanisms of defense are extremely important for the maintenance of genome integrity, in order to contrast carcinogenesis that may arise from genotoxic agents, oncogene activation, as well as from alterations of DNA metabolism (such as in tumors and in other diseases).

An important role in checkpoint activity is played by p21CDKN1A, an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) belonging to the Cip/Kip family. This protein controls cell cycle progression not only during DDR, but also in normal processes of cell differentiation, and in senescence. In addition, p21 is involved in the regulation of other important processes, such as transcription, apoptosis and cell motility. Lastly, p21 may participate directly in DNA repair mechanisms, such as nucleotide excision repair (NER) and base excision repair (BER), and in homologous recombination. The ability of p21 to perform all such functions, largely relies on the interaction with important factors acting in the above mentioned processes.

My research group has contributed to uncover some aspects of the participation of p21 in DNA repair, particularly by defining how interaction with PCNA, or with PARP-1, plays a relevant role in the efficiency of NER or BER, respectively. Currently, our research is focused on the molecular mechanisms by which p21 may influence DNA repair efficiency, and in particular, we aim to understand whether this activity is required for regulating the interaction between PCNA and its numerous partners, and whether it is coupled to p21 degradation. In addition, we want to understand how this function may influence the cell response to DNA damaging antitumor drugs.

Another field of study is centered on the role of PCNA acetylation in DNA replication and repair, and in the characterization of this post-translational modification in order to understand whether it may link PCNA protein stability with increased cellular levels, as found in many tumors. The relevance of these mechanisms in the DDR is also investigated in cellular model systems derived from patients of Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, carrying mutations in CREBBP and Ep300 genes coding for two enzymes with lysine acetyl transferase activity, responsible for PCNA acetylation.

 

Research Projects

Research Group


Recent Publications

2023

Maraventano G; Ticli G; Cazzalini O; Stivala LA; Ramos-Gonzalez M; Rodríguez JL; Prosperi E

Single Cell Determination of 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine by Fluorescence Techniques: Antibody vs. Avidin Labeling Journal Article

In: Molecules, vol. 28, iss. 11, pp. 4326, 2023.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

2022

Barrios-Arpi L; Arias Y; Lopez-Torres B; Ramos-Gonzalez M; Ticli G; Prosperi E; Rodríguez J-L

In Vitro Neurotoxicity of Flumethrin Pyrethroid on SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells: Apoptosis Associated with Oxidative Stress Journal Article

In: Toxics, vol. 10, iss. 3, pp. 131, 2022.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Ticli G; Cazzalini O; Stivala LA; Prosperi E

Revisiting the Function of p21CDKN1A in DNA Repair: The Influence of Protein Interactions and Stability Journal Article

In: International journal of molecular sciences, vol. 23, iss. 13, pp. 7058, 2022.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

2021

Guardamagna I; Bassi E; Savio M; Perucca P; Cazzalini O; Prosperi E; Stivala LA

A functional in vitro cell-free system for studying DNA repair in isolated nuclei Journal Article

In: Journal of cell science, vol. 133, no. 11, 2021.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Scalera C; Ticli G; Dutto I; Cazzalini O; Stivala LA; Prosperi E

Transcriptional stress induces chromatin relocation of the nucleotide excision repair factor XPG Journal Article

In: International journal of molecular sciences, vol. 22, pp. 6589, 2021.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

2020

Guardamagna I; Bassi E; Savio M; Perucca P; Cazzalini O; Prosperi E; Stivala LA

A Functional in vitro Cell-Free System for Studying DNA Repair in Isolated Nuclei Journal Article

In: Journal of cell science, vol. 133, no. 11, pp. 1-12, 2020.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Scalera C; Dutto I; Barbazza F; Abou Khouzam R; Ticli G; Cazzalini O; Stivala LA; Prosperi E

Dynamics of protein binding to sites of nascent unscheduled DNA repair synthesis in non-proliferating cells Journal Article

In: bioRxiv - Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 2020.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Dutto I; Scalera C; Tillhon M; Ticli G; Passaniti G; Cazzalini O; Savio M; Stivala LA; Gervasini C; Larizza L; Prosperi E

Mutations in CREBBP and EP300 genes affect DNA repair of oxidative damage in Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome cells. Journal Article

In: Carcinogenesis, vol. 41, no. 3, pp. 257-266, 2020.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Dutto I; Scalera C; Tillhon M; Ticli G; Passaniti G; Cazzalini O; Savio M; Stivala LA; Gervasini C; Larizza L; Prosperi E

Mutations in CREBBP and EP300 genes affect DNA repair of oxidative damage in Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome cells. Journal Article

In: Carcinogenesis, 2020.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Cardano M; Tribioli C; Prosperi E

Targeting Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) as an Effective Strategy to Inhibit Tumor Cell Proliferation. Journal Article

In: Current cancer drug targets, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 240-252, 2020.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

2019

Bassi E; Perucca P; Guardamagna I; Prosperi E; Stivala LA; Cazzalini O.

Exploring new potential role of DDB2 by host cell reactivation assay in human tumorigenic cells. Journal Article

In: BMC cancer, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 1013, 2019.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Ticli G; Prosperi E

In situ analysis of DNA-protein complex formation upon radiation-induced DNA damage Journal Article

In: International journal of molecular sciences, vol. 20, pp. 5736, 2019.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

2018

Perucca P; Mocchi R; Guardamagna I; Bassi E; Sommatis S; Nardo T; Prosperi E; Stivala LA; Cazzalini O

A damaged DNA binding protein 2 mutation disrupting interaction with proliferating-cell nuclear antigen affects DNA repair and confers proliferation advantage. Journal Article

In: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research, vol. 1865, no. 6, pp. 898-907, 2018.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Dutto I; Scalera C; Prosperi E

CREBBP and p300 lysine acetyl transferases in the DNA damage response. Journal Article

In: Cellular and molecular life sciences: CMLS, vol. 75, no. 8, pp. 1325-1338, 2018.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Alari V; Russo S; Rovina D; Gowran A; Garzo M; Crippa M; Mazzanti L; Scalera C; Prosperi E; Giardino D; Gervasini C; Finelli P; Pompilio G; Larizza L

Generation of the Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome type 2 patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell line (IAIi001-A) carrying the EP300 exon 23 stop mutation c.3829A > T, p.(Lys1277*). Journal Article

In: Stem cell research, vol. 30, pp. 175-179, 2018.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Alari V; Russo S; Rovina D; Garzo M; Crippa M; Calzari L; Scalera C; Concolino D; Castiglioni E; Giardino D; Prosperi E; Finelli P; Gervasini C; Gowran A; Larizza L

Generation of three iPSC lines (IAIi002, IAIi004, IAIi003) from Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome 1 patients carrying CREBBP non sense c.4435G>T, p.(Gly1479*) and c.3474G>A, p.(Trp1158*) and missense c.4627G>T, p.(Asp1543Tyr) mutations. Journal Article

In: Stem cell research, vol. 40, pp. 101553, 2018.

Links | BibTeX

2017

Dutto I; Cazzalini O; Stivala LA; Prosperi E

An improved method for the detection of nucleotide excision repair factors at local UV DNA damage sites. Journal Article

In: DNA Repair, vol. 51, pp. 79-84, 2017.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

2016

Dutto I; Tillhon M; Prosperi E

Assessing Cell Cycle Independent Function of the CDK Inhibitor p21(CDKN1A) in DNA Repair. Journal Article

In: Methods in Molecular Biology - Cyclin-Dependent Kinase (CDK) Inhibitors, vol. 1336, pp. 123-139, 2016.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Dutto I; Sukhanova M; Tillhon M; Cazzalini O; Stivala LA; Scovassi AI; Lavrik O; Prosperi E

p21CDKN1A Regulates the Binding of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 to DNA Repair Intermediates. Journal Article

In: Plos One, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. e0146031, 2016.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

2015

Perucca P; Sommatis S; Mocchi R; Prosperi E; Stivala LA; Cazzalini O

A DDB2 mutant protein unable to interact with PCNA promotes cell cycle progression of human transformed embryonic kidney cells. Journal Article

In: Cell Cycle, vol. 14, no. 24, pp. 3920-3928, 2015.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Dutto I; Tillhon M; Cazzalini O; Stivala LA; Prosperi E

Biology of the cell cycle inhibitor p21CDKN1A: molecular mechanisms and relevance in chemical toxicology. Journal Article

In: Archives of Toxicology, vol. 89, pp. 155–178, 2015.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Necchi D; Pinto A; Tillhon M; Dutto I; Serafini MM; Lanni C; Govoni S; Racchi M; Prosperi E

Defective DNA repair and increased chromatin binding of DNA repair factors in Down syndrome fibroblasts. Journal Article

In: Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis, vol. 780, pp. 15-23, 2015.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX