Research Group: Giampaolo Minetti,  Annarita Ciana, Cesare Achilli

The scientific interests of the research group deal mainly with the basic properties of biological membranes, focusing on the erythrocyte membrane as a classical model. The biochemical properties of normal, pathologic, in vivo aged and stored erythrocytes and of erythrocytes produced under conditions of neocytolysis are investigated. Erythrocyte membrane proteins and lipids are studied using biochemical and biophysical methods (electrophoresis, Western blotting, fluorescence microscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, omega-alkynyl fatty acid analogs and “click” chemistry to study protein acylation) to elucidate the structure and function of various membrane domains, such as the membrane skeleton, membrane rafts, vesicles, and their interplay. High-resolution separation of erythrocytes of different age is implemented in his lab to study in vivo aged erythrocytes.

Recent Publications:

• Ciana A, Achilli C, Gaur A, Minetti G. Membrane remodelling and vesicle formation during ageing of human red blood cells. Cell Physiol Biochem 2017;42:1127-1138.
• Ciana A, Achilli C, Minetti G. Membrane rafts of the human red blood cell. Molecular Membrane Biology, 2014;31:47-57.
• Risso A, Ciana A, Achilli C, Antonutto G, Minetti G. Neocytolysis: none, one or many? A reappraisal and future perspectives. Front Physiol. 2014;5:54.