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Paola Gavazzo

Research staff

1988 Master degree in Biological Science
1993 PhD in Biophysics
1993-2001 Post doc at Biophysics Institute (IBF) CNR Genova
2001- Researcher at IBF, Genova

orcid://0000-0002-2016-4702,

Contact:

- Email paola.gavazzo@ibf.cnr.it
- Phone +39-010-6475569
- Location Genova

Research interests:

- Migraine and the voltage-gated sodium channel (Principal investigator)
- Biophysics study of stem cell differentiation (Principal investigator)
- Functional characterization of Kir4.1 and its involvement in age-related hearing loss (Principal investigator)
- Characterization of the mechanism of action of plant polyphenols from green-tea
- Volume-regulated Cl and oxidation-activated K channels in invasiveness and immunotherapy efficiency in human melanoma
- Leveraging basic knowledge of ion channel network in cancer for innovative therapeutic strategies (LIONESS)

Further collaborations:

- Familial Hemiplegic Migraine: Prof Tobias Freilinger, Klinikum Passau; Susanna Alloisio, ETT Genova
- Kir 4.1 functional characterization: Prof. Silvia Dossena, Paracelsus Medical University , Salzburg; Prof. Rossana Morabito, Dott. Alessia Remigante Università di Messina

Financial support:

- Finanziamento Telethon GGP17178 "A novel comprehensive strategy for the study of the molecular basis of Familial Hemiplegic Migraine" (Una nuova strategia integrata per lo studio delle basi molecolari dell’Emicrania Emiplegica Familiare 3)
- Finanziamento PRIN 2022YRBE8B: Functional characterization of Kir4.1 and its involvement in age-related hearing loss

Key publications:

Remigante A, Spinelli S, Zuccolini P, Gavazzo P, Marino A, Pusch M, Morabito R, Dossena S. Melatonin protects Kir2.1 function in an oxidative stress-related model of aging neuroglia. Biofactors. doi: 10.1002/biof.2024. 2023

Auffenberg E, Hedrich UB, Barbieri R, Miely D, Groschup B, Wuttke TV, Vogel N, Luhrs P, Zanardi I, Bertelli S, Spielmann N, Gailus-Durner V, Fuchs H, Hrabe de Angelis M, Pusch M, Dichgans M, Lerche H, Gavazzo P*, Plesnila N*, Freilinger T*. Hyperexcitable interneurons trigger cortical spreading depression in an Scn1a migraine model. J Clin Invest. 131(21):e142202. doi: 10.1172/JCI142202. 2021

Barbieri R, Bertelli S, Pusch M, Gavazzo P. Late sodium current blocker GS967 inhibits persistent currents induced by familial hemiplegic migraine type 3 mutations of the SCN1A gene. J Headache Pain. 20(1):107. doi: 10.1186/s10194-019-1056-2. 2019

Bertelli S, Barbieri R, Pusch M, Gavazzo P. Gain of function of sporadic/familial hemiplegic migraine-causing SCN1A mutations: Use of an optimized cDNA. Cephalalgia. doi: 10.1177/0333102418788336. 2018

Petecchia L, Sbrana F, Utzeri R, Vercellino M, Usai C, Visai L, Vassalli M, Gavazzo P. Electro-magnetic field promotes osteogenic differentiation of BM-hMSCs through a selective action on Ca(2+)-related mechanisms. Sci Rep. 14;5:13856. doi: 10.1038/srep13856. 2015

Publications (50):

Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Dysfunctions in Neurological Disorders
Barbieri R.; Nizzari M.; Zanardi I.; Pusch M.; Gavazzo P.
Life (Basel), 2023
DOI: 10.3390/life13051191

Biophysical Aspects of Neurodegenerative and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Involving Endo-/Lysosomal CLC Cl-/H+ Antiporters
Coppola Maria Antonietta; Tettey-Matey Abraham; Imbrici Paola; Gavazzo Paola; Liantonio Antonella; Pusch Michael
Life (Basel), 2023
DOI: 10.3390/life13061317

BK Channel in the Physiology and in the Cancer of Pancreatic Duct: Impact and Reliability of BK Openers
Zuccolini Paolo, Gavazzo Paola and Pusch Michael
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2022
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.906608

The VRAC blocker DCPIB directly gates the BK channels and increases intracellular Ca2+ in melanoma and pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma cell lines
Zuccolini Paolo; Ferrera Loretta; Remigante Alessia; Picco Cristiana; Barbieri Raffaella; Bertelli Sara; Moran Oscar; Gavazzo Paola; Pusch Michael
British journal of pharmacology, 2022
DOI: 10.1111/bph.15810

Molecular determinants underlying volume-regulated anion channel subunit-dependent oxidation sensitivity
Bertelli S.; Zuccolini P.; Gavazzo P.; Pusch M.
Journal of physiology (Lond., Print), 2022
DOI: 10.1113/JP283321

Ion Channel Involvement in Tumor Drug Resistance
Altamura Concetta, Gavazzo Paola, Pusch Michael and Desaphy Jean-Francois
Journal of personalized medicine, 2022
DOI: 10.3390/jpm12020210

Mechanisms of activation of LRRC8 volume regulated anion channels
Bertelli S.; Remigante A.; Zuccolini P.; Barbieri R.; Ferrera L.; Picco C.; Gavazzo P.; Pusch M.
Cellular physiology and biochemistry, 2021
DOI: 10.33594/000000329

Development of label-free biophysical markers in osteogenic maturation
Bartolozzi Alice; Viti Federica; De Stefano Silvia; Sbrana Francesca; Petecchia Loredana; Gavazzo Paola; Vassalli Massimo
Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials (Print), 2020
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2019.103581

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate mobilizes intracellular Ca2+ in prostate cancer cells through combined Ca2+ entry and Ca2+-induced Ca(2+)release
Marchetti, Carla and Gavazzo, Paola and Burlando, Bruno
Life sciences (1973), 2020
DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118232

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate mobilizes intracellular Ca 2+ in prostate cancer cells through combined Ca 2+ entry and Ca 2+ -induced Ca 2+ release
Carla Marchetti, Paola Gavazzo, Bruno Burlando
Life sciences (1973), 2020
DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118232

Late sodium current blocker GS967 inhibits persistent currents induced by familial hemiplegic migraine type 3 mutations of the SCN1A gene
Barbieri R.; Bertelli S.; Pusch M.; Gavazzo P.
The Journal of headache and pain (Testo stamp.), 2019
DOI: 10.1186/s10194-019-1056-2

Gain of function of sporadic/familial hemiplegic migraine-causing SCN1A mutations: Use of an optimized cDNA
Bertelli S, Barbieri R, Pusch M, Gavazzo P
Cephalalgia (Oslo), 2019
DOI: 10.1177/0333102418788336

The effect of pulsed electromagnetic field exposure on osteoinduction of human mesenchymal stem cells cultured on nano-TiO2 surfaces
Bloise N, Petecchia L, Ceccarelli G, Fassina L, Usai C, Bertoglio F, Balli M, Vassalli M, Cusella De Angelis MG, Gavazzo P, Imbriani M, Visai L
PloS one, 2018
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199046

A biophysical approach to quantify skeletal stem cells trans-differentiation as a model for the study of osteoporosis
Petecchia L, Viti F, Sbrana F, Vassalli M, Gavazzo P
Biophysical chemistry (Print), 2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2017.05.011

Biophysical characterization of nanostructured TiO2 as a good substrate for hBM-MSC adhesion, growth and differentiation
Petecchia L, Usai C, Vassalli M, Gavazzo P
Experimental cell research, 2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2017.06.008

Controlled single-cell cyclic compression and transcription analysis: A pilot study
Gavazzo P, Petecchia L, Facci P, Vassalli M, Viti F
Biophysical chemistry (Print), 2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2017.07.010

Subunit-dependent oxidative stress sensitivity of LRRC8 volume-regulated anion channels
Gradogna A, Gavazzo P, Boccaccio A, Pusch M
Journal of physiology (Lond., Print), 2017
DOI: 10.1113/JP274795

The biophysics of piezo1 and piezo2 mechanosensitive channels
Soattin L.; Fiore M.; Gavazzo P.; Viti F.; Facci P.; Raiteri R.; Difato F.; Pusch M.; Vassalli M.
Biophysical chemistry (Print), 2016
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2015.06.013

Electro-magnetic field promotes osteogenic differentiation of BM-hMSCs through a selective action on Ca2+-related mechanisms
Petecchia, Loredana; Sbrana, Francesca; Utzeri, Roberto; Vercellino, Marco; Usai, Cesare; Visai, Livia; Vassalli, Massimo; Gavazzo, Paola
Scientific reports (Nature Publishing Group), 2015
DOI: 10.1038/srep13856

In vitro effect of temperature on the conformational structure and collagen binding of SdrF, a Staphylococcus epidermidis adhesin
Di Poto A.; Papi M.; Trivedi S.; Maiorana A.; Gavazzo P.; Vassalli M.; Lowy F.D.; De Spirito M.; Montanaro L.; Imbriani M.; Arciola C.R.; Visai L.
Applied microbiology and biotechnology, 2015
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-6456-x

Multiple effects of copper on NMDA receptor currents
Marchetti, Carla; Baranowska-Bosiacka, Irena; Gavazzo, Paola
Brain research, 2014
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2013.10.029

Elastin-Coated Biodegradable Photopolymer Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications
Rossella Barenghi 1; Szabolcs Beke 2; Ilaria Romano 2; Paola Gavazzo 3; Balázs Farkas 2; Massimo Vassalli 3; Fernando Brandi 2,4; Silvia Scaglione 1
BioMed Research International (Online), 2014
DOI: 10.1155/2014/624645

Novel ncRNAs transcribed by Pol III and elucidation of their functional relevance by biophysical approaches
Gavazzo, Paola and Vassalli, Massimo and Costa, Delfina and Pagano, Aldo
Frontiers in cellular neuroscience, 2013
DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00203

The P2X7 receptor as a route for non-exocytotic glutamate release: dependence on the carboxyl tail
Cervetto C; Alloisio S; Frattaroli D; Mazzotta MC; Milanese M; Gavazzo P; Passalacqua M; Nobile M; Maura G; Marcoli M
Journal of neurochemistry, 2013
DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12143

Probing cytoskeleton organisation of neuroblastoma cells with single-cell force spectroscopy
Mescola A; Vella S; Scotto M; Gavazzo P; Canale C; Diaspro A; Pagano A; Vassalli M
JMR. Journal of molecular recognition, 2012
DOI: 10.1002/jmr.2173

The Murine PSE/TATA-Dependent Transcriptome: Evidence of Functional Homologies with Its Human Counterpart
Bruzzone MJ; Gavazzo P; Massone S; Balbi C; Villa F; Conti A; Dieci G; Cancedda R; Pagano A
International journal of molecular sciences (Online), 2012
DOI: 10.3390/ijms131114813

Nickel modulates the electrical activity of cultured cortical neurons through a specific effect on N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor channels
Gavazzo P, Tedesco M, Chiappalone M, Zanardi I, Marchetti C
Neuroscience, 2011

South African plants used in traditional medicine to treat epilepsy have an antagonistic effect on NMDA receptor currents
Marchetti C, Gavazzo P, Stafford GI, Van Staden J
Journal of ethnopharmacology, 2011

Acquisition of neuron-like electrophysiological properties in neuroblastoma cells by controlled expression of NDM29 ncRNA
Gavazzo P, Vella S, Marchetti C, Nizzari M, Cancedda R, Pagano A
Journal of neurochemistry, 2011
DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2011.07492.x

The influence of Calcium ions on Nickel modulation of NMDA receptor currents
Gavazzo P, Guida P, Marchetti C
Metallomics (Print), 2011

Molecular determinants of multiple effects of Nickel on NMDA receptor channels
Gavazzo P.; Guida P.; Zanardi I.; Marchetti C.
Neurotoxicity resarch, 2009
DOI: 10.1007/s12640-009-9003-7

Molecular determinants of Pb2+ interaction with NMDA receptor channels.
Gavazzo P.; Zanardi I.; Baranowska-Bosiacka I.; Marchetti C.
Neurochemistry international, 2008
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2007.07.003

Voltage-induced morphological modifications in oocyte membranes containing exogenous K(+) channels studied by electrochemical scanning force microscopy
Alessandrini A; Gavazzo P; Picco C; Facci P
Microscopy research and technique (Print), 2008
DOI: 10.1002/jemt.20552

Nickel differentially affects NMDA receptor channels in developing cultured rat neurons
Paola Gavazzo; Monica Mazzolini; Mariateresa Tedesco; Carla Marchetti
Brain research, 2006
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2006.01.059

Susceptibility of insulinoma cells to Cadmium and modulation by L-type calcium channels.
Gavazzo P.; Morelli E.; Marchetti C.
BioMetals (Oxf.), 2005
DOI: 10.1007/s10534-004-5789-1

NMDA receptors as targets of heavy metal interaction and toxicity.
Marchetti C.; Gavazzo P.
Neurotoxicity resarch, 2005
DOI: 10.1007/BF03033978

Histidines are responsible for zinc potentiation of the current in KDCl carrot channels.
Cristiana Picco; Monica Bregante; Alessia Naso; Paola Gavazzo; Alex Costa; Elide Formentin; Patrick Downey; Fiorella Lo Schiavo; Franco Gambale
Biophysical journal (Print), 2004
DOI: 10.1016/S0006-3495(04)74098-9

Subunit-dependent effects of nickel on NMDA receptor channels.
Marchetti C. 1, Gavazzo P. 1
Molecular brain research, 2003

Co-expression of wild-type and mutant olafctory cyclic nucleotide-gated channels: restoration of the native sensitivity to Ca2+ and Mg2+ blockage
Picco C. 1, Gavazzo P. 1, Menini A. 1,2
NeuroReport (Oxf.), 2001

Lead inhibition of NMDA channels in native and recombinant receptors.
Gavazzo P. , Gazzoli A. , Mazzolini M. , Marchetti C.
NeuroReport (Oxf.), 2001

A point mutation in the pore region alters gating, Ca2+ blockage, and permeation of olfactory cyclic nucleotide-gated channels
Gavazzo P; Picco C; Eismann E; Kaupp UB; Menini A
The Journal of general physiology, 2000
DOI: 10.1085/jgp.116.3.311

Effects of histone acetylation on chromatin structure
Gavazzo P; Vergani L; Mascetti GC; Nicolini C
Journal of cellular biochemistry (Print), 1997
DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4644(19970301)64:3<466::AID-JCB13>3.0.CO;2-E

Ethidium bromide intercalation and chromatin structure: A thermal analysis
Vergani L; Mascetti G; Gavazzo P; Nicolini C
Thermochimica Acta, 1997
DOI: 10.1016/S0040-6031(96)03123-1

Mechanisms of modulation by internal protons of cyclic nucleotide-gated channels cloned from sensory receptor cells
Gavazzo P; Picco C; Menini A
Proceedings - Royal Society. Biological sciences (Print), 1997

Modulation by internal protons of native cyclic nucleotide-gated channels from retinal rods
Picco C; Sanfilippo C; Gavazzo P; Menini A
The Journal of general physiology, 1996
DOI: 10.1085/jgp.108.4.265

STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXTRACELLULAR ACIDIFICATION AND CELL VIABILITY BY A SILICON-BASED SENSOR
P. Gavazzo; S. Paddeu; M. Sartore; C. Nicolini
Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical (Print), 1994
DOI: 10.1016/0925-4005(93)00999-F

Ethidium Bromide Intercalation and Chromatin Structure: A Spectropolarimetric Analysis
Laura Vergani , Paola Gavazzo , Giancarlo Mascetti , Claudio Nicolini
Biochemistry (Easton), 1994
DOI: 10.1021/bi00187a027

FLUORESCENCE CYTOMETRY OF MICROTUBULES AND NUCLEAR-DNA DURING CELL-CYCLE AND REVERSE-TRANSFORMATION
VERGANI, L; GAVAZZO, P; FACCI, P; DIASPRO, A; MASCETTI, G; ARENA, N; GASPA, L; NICOLINI, C
Journal of cellular biochemistry (Print), 1992
DOI: 10.1002/jcb.240500210

VITAMIN-D-RESPONSIVE PROTEIN DNA INTERACTIONS AT MULTIPLE PROMOTER REGULATORY ELEMENTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE LEVEL OF RAT OSTEOCALCIN GENE-EXPRESSION
R Bortell; T A Owen; J P Bidwell; P Gavazzo; E Breen; A J van Wijnen; H F DeLuca; J L Stein; J B Lian; G S Stein
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1992
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.89.13.6119

EFFECTS OF FIXATIVES ON HIGH-ORDER CHROMATIN STRUCTURE - A CALORIMETRIC STUDY
L. Vergani; G. Mascetti; P. Gavazzo; C. Nicolini
Thermochimica Acta, 1992
DOI: 10.1016/0040-6031(92)85295-7