Research: The autophagic process: investigating the role of microtubules and tubulin acetylation
CURRICULUM VITAE ET STUDIORUM
Francesca Romana Pellegrini
Date and Place of Birth: 10/11/1996, Rome (RM)
Residence: Via dei Brusati 89, Rome (RM)
Mobile Phone: 3406098649
Personal e-mail: pellegrinifrancescaromana@gmail.com
Institutional e-mail: francescaromana.pellegrini@uniroma1.it
PEC: pellegrinifrancescaromana@postecert.it
Education
PhD in Life Science at the University "La Sapienza" of Rome 2021 - on going. Supervisor: Dr Daniela Trisciuoglio
Master degree in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Italian curriculum (LM-06), Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences at the University "La Sapienza" of Rome achieved on 20.10.2021 voting 110/110 cum laude, discussing the experimental thesis entitled "Characterization of a molecule with antitumor activity: cellular mechanisms that promote autophagy and their role in cell death". Supervisor: Dr Francesca Degrassi
Bachelor degree in Biological Sciences, at the University "La Sapienza" of Rome achieved on 21.03.2019 with vote 95/110, discussing the thesis entitled "Cryopreservation techniques for oocytes and embryos: implications in assisted reproductive techniques". External supervisor: Veronica Corsetti; internal supervisor: Prof. Ada Maria Tata.
Classical high school diploma, at the Liceo Classico "Dante Alighieri", in Rome (RM), achieved in 2015.
Professional and research experiences
Cooperation assignment at the CNR, IBPM Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, within the research project entitled "Dynamic signaling reciprocity shapes invadopodia function and metastatic process of ovarian cancer: role of endothelin-1" - funded by AIRC - Italian Association for Cancer Research (cod. IG 2018 Id. 21372 III annuality 2021) scientific responsible and holder of the funds Dr. Laura Rosanò. NOTICE NO. 4/2021
September 2020 - October 2021: Internship for the preparation of the experimental thesis in Genetics and Molecular Biology at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM) of the CNR, Rome, under the supervision of Dr. Francesca Degrassi.
Activity: Study of small molecules with possible antitumor activity, that induce cell death, inhibiting the proper fusion between autophagosomes and lysosomes with consequent block of autophagic flux.
Training courses
June 2021 - July 2021: Online training course "Seeing is believing: school of microscopy - Edition for researchers" Golinelli Foundation
Language skills and competences
Mother language: Italian
Other Languages:
English CAE (grade C1)
Spanish DELE (grade A2)
Research methodologies acquired
Cell cultures
- Mammalian cell cultures (transformed cells)
- Construction of stable cell lines for over-expression and down-expression of genes of interest
- Treatments with chemical compounds in plates
Biochemistry
- Protein extraction from mammalian cells
- Protein assay by spectrophotometry
- Protein electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting by western blots
- Protein purification from bacterial cultures
Molecular biology
- Nucleic acid extraction
- Electrophoresis of nucleic acids on agarose gels
Microscopy
- Preparation of samples for immunofluorescence for the study of protein localization
- Time-Lapse microscopy studies
Cytofluorimetry
- Preparation of samples for cell cycle analysis (using Propidium Iodide as DNA dye), apoptosis analysis (using Annexin-V assay), analysis of reactive oxygen species production, ROS (using DHE assay).
- Analysis of results using specialized software (Flowing Software, BD CellQuest Software)
Computer skills and competences
- Good knowledge of the use of PCs. Familiarity with Windows and Mac operating systems
- Good knowledge and mastery in the use of search engines such as PubMed, Medline, Scopus
- Excellent knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet programs (in particular Word, PowerPoint and Excel) and graphics programs (Adobe Photoshop)
- Good knowledge in the use of 3D graphics software for the representation of biomolecules (PyMOL) Good knowledge and mastery of computer software for the acquisition and processing of data generated by Western Blot experiments (Image Lab, Image J), immunofluorescence (Cell profiler, NIS Elements), cytofluorometry (Flowing Software, BD CellQuest Software) and statistical software (Graph Pad Prism).
Scientific production
• First-in-Class Inhibitors of the Ribosomal Oxygenase MINA53
Radosław P. Nowak, Anthony Tumber, Eline Hendrix, Mohammad Salik Zeya Ansari, Manuela Sabatino, Lorenzo Antonini, Regina Andrijes, Eidarus Salah, Nicola Mautone, Francesca Romana Pellegrini, Klemensas Simelis, Akane Kawamura, Catrine Johansson, Daniela Passeri, Roberto Pellicciari, Alessia Ciogli, Donatella Del Bufalo, Rino Ragno, Mathew L. Coleman, Daniela Trisciuoglio, Antonello Mai, Udo Oppermann, Christopher J. Schofield, and Dante Rotili
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00605