• Istituto di Biologia e Patologia Molecolari


Tel :+390649912392 office +390649912318 lab
Fax :+390649912500
loredana.verdone@cnr.it
LOREDANA VERDONE
Researcher

Sapienza University of Rome
Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology CNR
Department of Biology and Biotechnology - Charles Darwin - Sapienza University of Rome Fisiologia Generale Building P. le A.Moro 5 00185 Roma
RESEARCH INTERESTS

The main focus of my research activity is focused on the molecular mechanisms of transcriptional regulation.

One of the aspects analysed, in the past, was the relevance of promoter chromatin organization and its remodeling in the control of gene expression, both at the level of nucleosome positioning and histone covalent modifications. Most of the work was performed in the yeast S.cerevisiae, using as model system a group of co-regulated genes, normally repressed by glucose and activated in glucose limiting conditions.

Another aspect analysed was the influence of environment on epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation. We have developed an in vitro system in which human monocyte-macrophage U937 cells are directly exposed to filters containing different amounts of PM(10) collected in the city of Rome. Transcriptional profiling obtained after short exposure (1h) of cells, using a macroarray panel of 1176 genes, reveals a significant change in the mRNA level for 87 genes. The identification of a large panel of bio-markers offers the possibility to investigate in a systematic manner the cause-effect relationship between specific components of particulate matter and their consequences on genome functions.

To further investigate the molecular mechanisms of transcriptional regulation my research activity was also focused on a possible interplay between histone acetylation and poly ADP-ribosylation. Using PJ34 or ABT888 to inhibit PARP activity or over-expressing poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG), we show a decrease of global histone H3 and H4 acetylation. This effect is accompanied by a reduction of the steady state mRNA level of p300, Pcaf, and Tnfα, but not of Dnmt1and an increase of global deacetylase activity in nuclear extracts from cells treated with PJ34.

More recently, the main interest of my research activity is to verify the hypothesis that the Quadrato Motor Training (QMT), a sensory-motor training which was found to improve neuronal synchronization and to increase creativity, reflectivity, attention, as well as neuroplasticity.

Neuroplasticity implies remodeling of neuronal structures, which in turn involves molecular modifications. Maintaining neuroplasticity is an important goal, which can be stimulated through training, by activating molecular mechanisms, for example, regulation of growth factors. The aim of the current exploratory study was to examine the link between structural and neurotrophic changes following the QMT, providing novel insights regarding the possible underlying neural and molecular mechanisms.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Pubblicazioni su riviste internazionali

  1. Di Mauro, G. Camilloni, L. Verdone and M. Caserta (1993). DNA topoisomeraseI controls the kinetics of promoter activation and DNA topology in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mol Cell Biol 13, 6702-6710 
  2. Verdone, G. Camilloni, E. Di Mauro and M. Caserta (1996). Chromatin Remodeling during Saccharomyces cerevisiae ADH2 Gene Activation. Mol Cell Biol 16, 1978-1988. 
  3. Verdone, F. Cesari, C.L. Denis, E. Di Mauro and M. Caserta (1997). Factors affecting Saccharomyces cerevisiae ADH2 chromatin remodeling and transcription. J Biol Chem 49, 30828-30834. 
  4. E. Mayes, L. Verdone, P. Legrain and J.D. Beggs (1999). Characterization of Sm-like proteins in yeast and their association with U6 snRNA. EMBO J. 18, 101-111 
  5. P.I. Vidal, L. Verdone, A.E. Mayes and J.D. Beggs. (1999). Characterization of U6 snRNA-protein interactions. RNA 5, 1470-1481. 
  6. Caserta, M; Verdone, L; Chiappini, B; Xella B and Di Mauro E (2001). Chromatin structure and regulation of the S. cerevisiae ADH2 gene derepression. YEAST 18, S85-S85 Supplement: 1  
  7. Di Mauro, L. Verdone, B. Chiappini and M. Caserta (2002). In vivo changes of nucleosome positioning in the pre-transcription state. J Biol Chem 277, 7002-7009 
  8. Verdone, J. Wu, K. van Riper, N. Kacherovsky, M. Vogelauer, E. T. Young, M. Grunstein, E. Di Mauro and M. Caserta (2002). Hyperacetylation of chromatin at the ADH2 promoter allows Adr1 to bind in repressed conditions. EMBO J. 21, 1101-1111. 
  9. Kufel, J., Allmang, C., Verdone, L., Beggs, J.D. and Tollervey, D. (2002). Lsm-proteins are required for normal processing of pre-tRNAs and their efficient association with La (Lhp1p). Mol Cell Biol 22, 5248-5256. 
  10. Caserta, M., Verdone, L. and Di Mauro, E. (2002). Aspects of nucleosomal positional flexibility and fluidity. ChemBioChem 3, 1172-1182. Review 
  11. Mazzoni, C., Mancini, P., Verdone, L., Madeo, F., Serafini, A., Herker, E. and Falcone, (2003). A truncated form of KlLsm4p, a component of the Lsm complex leads to enhanced mRNA stability and apoptosis in yeast. Mol Biol Cell 14, 721-729. 
  12. Kufel J., Allmang C., Verdone L., Beggs J D.,and Tollervey D. (2003). A complex pathway for 3’-processing of the yeast U3 snoRNA. Nucleic Acids Res 31, 6788-6797. 
  13. Agricola, E., Verdone, L., Xella B., Di Mauro E. and Caserta M. (2004). Common chromatin architecture, common chromatin remodeling and common transcription kinetics of Adr1-dependent genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Biochemistry 43, 8878-8884. 
  14. Verdone, L., Galardi, S., Page, D. and Beggs, J.D. (2004). Lsm proteins promote regeneration of pre-mRNA splicing activity. Curr Biol 14, 1487-1491. 
  15. Verdone, L., Caserta, M. And Di Mauro E. (2005). Role of histone acetylation in the control of gene expression. Biochem Cell Biol 83, 344-53. Review 
  16. Agricola E., Verdone L, Di Mauro E, Caserta M. (2006) H4 acetylation does not replace H3 acetylation in chromatin remodelling and transcription activation of Adr1-dependent genes. Mol Microbiol 62, 1433-1446.
  17. Verdone L, Agricola E, Caserta M, Di Mauro E. (2006) Histone acetylation in gene regulation. Brief Funct Genomic Proteomic 5, 209-221. Review. 
  18. Caserta M, Agricola E, Churcher M, Hiriart E, Verdone L, Di Mauro E, Travers A. (2009) A translational signature for nucleosome positioning in vivo. Nucleic Acids Res 37, 5309-5321. 
  19. Caserta, M; Agricola, E; Churcher, M; Hiriart, E; Verdone, L; Di Mauro, E; Travers, A (2009) A translational signature for nucleosome positioning in vivo. Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics 26, 904 Accession Number: WOS:000266300700190; ISSN 0739-1102; Vol: 26, issue 6.
  20. Bastonini E, Verdone L, Morrone S, Santoni A, Settimo G, Marsili G, La FortezzaM, Di Mauro E, Caserta M. (2011). Transcriptional modulation of a human monocytic cell line exposed to PM(10) from an urban area. Environ Res 111, 764-774.
  21. Abate G, Bastonini E, Braun KA, Verdone L, Young ET, Caserta M. (2012). Snf1/AMPK regulates GCN5 occupancy, H3 acetylation and chromatin remodelling a S.cerevisiae ADY2 promoter. Biochim Biophys Acta 1819, 419-427.
  22. Ben-Soussan TD, Piervincenzi C, Venditti S, Verdone L, Caserta M, Carducci F. (2014) Increased cerebellar volume and BDNF level following Quadrato Motor Training. Synapse 69, 1–6.
  23. Sabrina Venditti, Loredana Verdone, Caterina Pesce, Nicoletta Tocci, M. Caserta and Tal Ben-Soussan (2015) Creating well-being: Increased creativity and proNGF decrease following Quadrato Motor Training. BioMed Research International Article ID 275062 DOI: 10.1155/2015/275062.
  24. Verdone L, La Fortezza M, Ciccarone F, Caiafa P, Zampieri M, Caserta M. (2015) Poly(ADP-Ribosyl)ation Affects Histone Acetylation and Transcription. PLoS One10, issue 12 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144287. eCollection 2015. 
  25. Venditti S, Verdone L, Caserta M, Vetriani V and Ben-Soussan T. (2018). “The molecular side of Quadrato Motor Training: implications for mental health”. International Journal of Mental health & Psychiatry doi: 104172/2471-4372-C2-011.
  26. Verdone L, Caserta M, Vetriani V, Glicksohn J, Venditti S and Ben-Soussan T (2019). Molecular and cognitive effects of Quadrato Motor Training in adult dyslexia: a longitudinal case study. Brain, Body, Cognition. Vol 8, N°1, ISSN 2643-5683.
  27. Caserta M, Ben-Soussan T, Vetriani V, Venditti  and Verdone L (2019). Influence of Quadrato Motor Training on Salivary proNGF and proBDNF. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 7;13:58. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00058. eCollection 2019.
  28. Venditti S, Verdone L, Reale A, Vetriani V, Caserta M, and Zampieri M (2020). Molecules of Silence. Effects of meditation on gene expression and epigenetics. Frontiers in Psychology DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01767.
  29. Verdone L, Caserta M, Ben-Soussan T.D and Venditti S (2023). On the road to resilience: Epigenetic effects of meditation. Vitamins and Hormones, 122, 339:376. Chapter 13.
  30. Verdone L, Marson F, Caserta M, Zampieri M, Reale A, Bacalini MG , Vetriani V, Ben-Soussan T.D and Venditti S (2023). Quadrato Motor Training (QMT) influences IL-1β expression and creativity: implications for inflammatory state reduction and cognitive improvement enhancement. Progress in Brain Research, 277: Neurophysiology of Silence, Chapter 8 (in press) Progress in Brain Research, ISSN 0079-6123.
  31. Marson F, Zampieri M, Verdone L, Bacalini MG, Ravaioli F, Morandi L, Chiarella SG, Vetriani V, Venditti S, Caserta M, Raffone A, Ben-Soussan TD, Reale A (2023). Quadrato Motor Training (QMT) is associated with DNA methylation changes at DNA repeats: a pilot study. Plos One (Under revision).

Pubblicazioni su riviste nazionali.

1.
Di Mauro Ernesto e Verdone Loredana  (2006). Epigenetic mechanisms and genome evolution.            Rendiconti-Accademia Nazionale delle Scienze detta XL. Memorie di Scienze Fisiche e Naturali. 124°        Vol XXX, t. I, pp. 1-10
2.
Rufo F, Verdone L, Venditti S (2006). Le biotecnologie e l’invecchiamento della popolazione:                  problemi di equità e di epistemologia civica. ARCO DI GIANO vol, 49, pp 131-145 ISSN 1721-0178
3.
Maio Andrea e Verdone Loredana (2012). Obesità: un nuovo paradigma sociale. Rivista Prometeo        Anno 30, numero 118 Arnoldo Mondadori editore.
4.
Micaela Caserta, Loredana Verdone, Emanuela Bastonini, Michele Russo, Petra Tomassini (2012).      Cap.15: Cellule umane stressate dall'inquinamento: Effetti dell'inquinamento atmosferico                  sull'epigenetica. Titolo del libro: Stress e Vita. La scienza dello stress e la scienza della salute alla luce      della Psiconeuroendocrinoimmunologia.  ISBN: 978-88-481-2854-4
 
RESEARCH GROUP
Micaela Caserta (Researcher IBPM, Sapienza University of Rome)

Sabrina Venditti (Researcher Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Charles Darwin)
COLLABORATIONS

Within IBPM:  

CNR Researchers: Dr. Micaela Caserta

Associate members:

Prof. Ernesto Di Mauro (Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza Università di Roma)

Prof. Giorgio Camilloni (Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza Università di Roma) 
 
With other institutions:

Prof. Paola Caiafa (Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Cellulari ed Ematologia, Sapienza Università di Roma) 

Prof. Angela Santoni (Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Patologia, Sapienza Università di Roma) 

Dr. Sabrina Venditti (Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza Università di Roma) 

Dr. Tal Dotan Ben-Soussan (Fondazione Patrizio Paoletti per lo Sviluppo e la Comunicazione)

Prof. Elton T. Young (Department of Biochemistry, Washington University at Seattle, USA)
Prof. Antonino Raffone (Dipartimento di Psicologia, Sapienza Università di Roma)
Prof. Anna Reale (Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sapienza Università di Roma)
Prof. Michele Zampieri (Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sapienza Università di Roma)
CV

 

Current Position
From 2010 Permanent Position as Researcher at the Institute of Molecular Biology and
Pathology, CNR, c/o Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Previous Positions
1997-1999 Wellcome Trust Research, Wellcome Trust Center for Cell Biology, University of
Edinburgh
2000-2004 Research Contract at Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University
of Rome, Italy
2005-2010 Fixed-term research contract, at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology,
CNR, c/o Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Education
1993 Degree in Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy;
1997 PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy;
1997-1999 Post Doctoral Position at Prof. Jean D Beggs’ laboratory at the University of Edinburgh Scotland (UK).
Expertise
Basic molecular biology techniques, DNA macroarrays, qRT-PCR, analysis of chromatin structure and epigenetic modifications (Chromatin IP, nucleosome positioning), cell culture (yeast, mouse and human cells), protein analysis (Western blot, ELISA), RNAseq.
Skills
Expert of gene expression regulation, epigenetics, and RNA biology, in several model systems, such as yeast, mouse and human cells.
Teaching activity
2004-2012 Teaching activity for basic Biology (5 CFU), in Bioethics Master at Sapienza University
of Rome. 
Educational activity
Since 2006, Member of the students’ examination committee in Molecular Biology, Sapienza University of Rome.
2004-2012 tutor of final theses in Bioethics Master at Sapienza University of Rome.
Since 2008, tutor of experimental theses in Molecular Biology.
Evaluator and reviewer for PhD thesis
Reviewer of PhD thesis, ”Functional analysis of DNA topoisomerase I: role in transcriptional regulation and genomic stability”, PhD student Alessandra Egidi – Dottorato di Ricerca in Genetica e Biologia Molecolare XXXII Ciclo (A.A. 2018/2019). 
Member of the examining commission - Public competitions
Examining Commission for the awarding of a research grant, Public call IBPM / ASS / 03/2012, as part of the research program entitled "FaReBio di Qualità-Small Model Organisms", funded by the Ministry of Economy and Finance in the area of ​​the “Projects for the innovation and development of the South”. Year 2012.
Awards
1997 Pasteur Cenci Bolognetti prize for PhD thesis.
1999 Keynote in Biochemical Society Meeting N°668, University of Glasgow. “RNA-protein interactions in nuclear pre-mRNA splicing”. 
Memberships of Scientific Societies
1999 Membership of Biochemical Society – UK
Institutional Assignments
2015-2020 Institute Board elected member for the Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM - CNR)
Since 2018 IBPM Budget Management designated member by the IBPM Director.
Since 2018 Founding member and part of the Organizing Committee of the IBMP NeuroNet consortium, for the integration of skills in the field of Neuroscience. 
Editorial activity
- Translator of the book Molecular Biology, Robert F. Weaver, 3rd edition editor Mc Graw Hill.
- Dictionary, vol. VI, published in ”Enciclopedia della Scienza e della Tecnica”, by Giovanni
Treccani.
- Encyclopedic Reference of Genomics and Proteomics in Molecular Medicine, pp 1330-1333 Editor Springer Berlin Heidelberg (2006).
- RNA-protein interactions in nuclear pre-mRNA splicing L. Verdone (1999) BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS 27, 89-89 Editor PORTLAND PRESS.
- M Caserta, L Verdone, B Chiappini, B Xella, E Di Mauro (2001) Chromatin structure and regulation of the S. cerevisiae ADH2 gene derepression. YEAST 18, S85-S85 Editor JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD.