1983-1986: Globin gene expression. 1987-1990: Molecular characterization of Endoplasmic reticulum proteins.1990-1993: Molecular characterization of Calcium stores. 1993-1994: Post-Doc Fellowship (European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany)1994-96: Post-Doc Fellowship (Univesity of Padova, Dept. Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali). 1996-1998: CNR (National Center for Reseach Fellowship. 1999-2001: Research Contract Dept. Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali Padova University. 2001-2003: Research Contract Dept. Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali. 2003-2004: Research Technician University of Padova. June2004-Sept 2004 “Visiting Assistant Professor” at the section of “Cellular Signaling” RUSH University Chicago Sept 2004- Sett 2005 Research Contract Dept. Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali “Transgenic miscele fibers: a new model for muscle cellular Phisyology. Sept 2005-Sept 2007 Research Technician Dept. Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali. From 2007 Researcher in Pathology at the Faculty of Pharmacy Padova.

1995-98 Associate Professor of Genetic Biotechnology G08X: Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Science, Degree in Agroindustrial Biotechnology University Verona. 1999-04 Lecturer of General Pathology: Faculty of Pharmacy Degree in Chemistry and pharmaceutical techniques and Pharmacy. University di Padova. 2007 up to now Associate Professor of General Pathology: Faculty of Pharmacy Degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Techniques and Pharmacy Padova University.

Role of Calsequestrin in morphogenesis and function of skeletal muscle. Calsequestrin is an extremely acidic protein that binds large amounts of Ca within the SR. Two isoforms are expressed during development and in adult muscles of mammals: skeletal and cardiac isoforms. Characterization of physiological processes and pathological conditions like fiber type specification, ageing, muscle denervation and plasticity, atrophy and also real diseases like muscular dystrophy and central core disease, correlate with modification of Calsequestrin content indicating an involvement of Calsequestrin in regulation of muscle pathophysiology. In order to acquire information on Calsequestrin multiple functions, animals with genetic ablation of Calsequestrin genes have been developed. Ablation of Calsequestrin genes induces some adaptive processes such as alteration of the structure of Ca release units, alteration of mitochondria, atrophy. Our interest is to investigate such mechanisms by molecular, cellular and in vivo approaches.

Human Skeletal Muscle plasticity. Physical activity plays an important role in preventing chronic disease and muscle degeneration in adults and elderly people. Voluntary physical exercise, is not always feasible and other therapies such as Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) have been developed. At present we are investigating the molecular pathways involved in structural and functional adaptation of skeletal muscle to physical exercise and FES.

  • Calsequestrin targeting to sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle fibers. Nori A, Valle G, Bortoloso E, Turcato F, Volpe P. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2006 Aug;291(2):C245-53.
  • Reorganized stores and impaired calcium handling in skeletal muscle of mice lacking calsequestrin-1. Paolini C, Quarta M, Nori A, Boncompagni S, Canato M, Volpe P, Allen PD, Reggiani C, Protasi F. J Physiol. 2007, 583.2, 767-784
  • Calsequestrin (CASQ1) rescues function and structure of calcium release units in skeletal muscles of CASQ1-null mice. Tomasi M, Canato M, Paolini C, Dainese M, Reggiani C, Volpe P, Protasi F, Nori A. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2012 Feb;302(3):C575-86
  • Altered Ca2+ concentration, permeability and buffering in the myofibre Ca2+ store of a mouse model of malignant hyperthermia. Manno C, Figueroa L, Royer L, Pouvreau S, Lee CS, Volpe P, Nori A, Zhou J, Meissner G, Hamilton SL, Ríos E. J Physiol. 2013, 15;591(Pt 18):4439-57.
  • Long-term high-level exercise promotes muscle reinnervation with age. Mosole S, Carraro U, Kern H, Loefler S, Fruhmann H, Vogelauer M, Burggraf S, Mayr W, Krenn M, Paternostro-Sluga T, Hamar D, Cvecka J, Sedliak M, Tirpakova V, Sarabon N, Musarò A, Sandri M, Protasi F, Nori A, Pond A, Zampieri S. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2014 Apr;73(4):284-94.
  • Furlan S, Campione M, Murgia M, Mosole S, Argenton F, Volpe P, Nori A. Calsequestrins New Calcium Store Markers of Adult Zebrafish Cerebellum and Optic Tectum. Front Neuroanat. 2020 Apr 21;14:15. doi: 10.3389/fnana.2020.00015. PMID: 32372920; PMCID: PMC7188384.

Finanziamenti di Ateneo, Attività di ricerca istituzionali