Phd in MOLECULAR MEDICINE

email: marialaura.petroni@uniroma1.it
phone:
building: RM110
room: 215

PRESENT POSITION:
Researcher (RTDB), SSD MED04

DEPARTMENT:
Dept. of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.

EDUCATION AND CAREER:
2022: Researcher (RTDB) at the Dept. of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy;
2021: National scientific qualification as associate professor, SC 06/A2-MED/04;
2019: Researcher (RTDA) at the Dept. of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy;
2016-2019: Post-doctoral Research Associate at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Center for Life Nano Science (CLNS@Sapienza) Rome, Italy;
2010-2015: Post-doctoral Researcher at the Dept. of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy;
2007-2010: PhD in Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy;
2007: Licensure in Biology at the University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
2005-2007: Master Degree Graduation “summa cum laude” in Genetic and Molecular Biology, Faculty of mathematical, physical and natural sciences, University “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
2001-2004: Bachelor Degree Graduation (108/110), Faculty of mathematical, physical and natural sciences, University “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy

MOST RELEVANT RESEARCH LINES:
-Study of non canonical roles of the DNA damage response protein NBS1;
-Study of the Replication Stress Response as a new target in the treatment of MYCN-driven tumors of the nervous system;
-Study of the role of the MRE11/RAD50/NBS1 (MRN) complex in cerebellar development and tumorigenesis;
-Study of the pathways essential for MYCN-dependent proliferation;
-Mechanisms through which MYCN sensitizes Neuroblastoma cells to apoptosis.

COLLABORATIONS:
-Prof. Zhao-Qi Wang, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany;
-Prof. Alessandro Corsi, Dept. of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy;
-Prof.ssa Paola Paci, Dep. of Computer Engineering, Automation and Management, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy.

FIVE SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
1) Petroni M, Fabretti F, Di Giulio S, Nicolis di Robilant V, La Monica V, Moretti M, Belardinilli F. Bufalieri F, Coppa A, Paci P, Corsi A, De Smaele E, Coni S, Canettieri G, Di Marcotullio L, Wang Z-Q, Giannini G. A gene dosage-dependent effect unveils NBS1 as both a haploinsufficient tumour suppressor and an essential gene for SHH-medulloblastoma. Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology. 2022 July. DOI: 10.1111/nan.12837.
2) Di Giulio S, Colicchia V, Pastorino F, Pedretti F, Fabretti F, Nicolis di Robilant V, Ramponi V, Scafetta G, Moretti M, Licursi V, Belardinilli F, Peruzzi G, Infante P, Goffredo BM, Coppa A, Canettieri G, Bartolazzi A, Ponzoni M, Giannini G*, Petroni M*. A combination of PARP and CHK1 inhibitors efficiently antagonizes MYCN-driven tumors. Oncogene. 2021 Sep 10. doi: 10.1038/s41388-021-02003-0.
*Co-last author
3) M. Petroni, F. Sardina, P. Infante, A. Bartolazzi, E. Locatelli, F. Fabretti, S. Di Giulio, C. Capalbo, B. Cardinali, A. Coppa, A. Tessitore, V. Colicchia, M. Sahùn Roncero, F. Belardinilli, L. Di Marcotullio, S. Soddu, M. Comes Franchini, E. Petricci, A. Gulino, G. Giannini. MRE11 inhibition highlights a replication stress-dependent vulnerability of MYCN-driven tumors. Cell death and disease. 2018 Aug; 9:895
4) V Colicchia*, M Petroni,* G Guarguaglini, F Sardina, M Sahún-Roncero, M Carbonari, B Ricci, C Heil, C Capalbo, F Belardinilli, A Coppa, G Peruzzi, I Screpanti, P Lavia, A Gulino and G Giannini. PARP inhibitors enhance replication stress and cause mitotic catastrophe in MYCN-dependent neuroblastoma. Oncogene. 2017 Aug; 36(33):4682-4691.
*equal contribution
5) Petroni M, Sardina F, Heil C, Sahún-Roncero M, Colicchia V, Veschi V, Albini S, Fruci D, Ricci B, Soriani A, Di Marcotullio L, Screpanti I, Gulino A, Giannini G. The MRN complex is transcriptionally regulated by MYCN during neural cell proliferation to control replication stress. Cell Death Differ. 2016 Feb;23(2):197-206.