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UNPD I

Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy

Prof. Pietrobon is principle investigator of the Department of Biomedical Sciences of UNPD I (University of Padova, Italy). She has a long-standing experience in the study of the functional, pharmacological and molecular properties of neuronal voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, and in particular, in the biophysical analysis of their single channel properties. With regard to the characterisation of disturbed ion homeostasis, she will focus on the electrophysiological consequences of mutant Cav2.1 channels in familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM1) knock-in animals from Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC). In addition, she will study in vivo Cortical Spreading Depression (CSD) analysis together with Institute of Neurology (ION) and her collaborator Prof. Pizzorusso.

Summary of relevant expertise

  1. Electrophysiology of mutant voltage-gated calcium channels. Functional properties of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels have been studied in neurons and transfected cells, and in particular in the last years research was focused on the physical analysis of their single channel properties. Using a combination of whole-cell and single channel patch-clamp recordings the effect of FHM and missense episodic ataxia type 2 (EA2) mutations on the functional properties of human Cav2.1 channels expressed in HEK293 cells and, more recently, in neurons from Cacna1a knockout mice expressing human Cav2.1α1 subunits was characterised.
  2. Electrophysiology in slices and Cortical Spreading Depression.Her lab is experienced in brain slice electrophysiology, and the part of the project involving electrophysiology in cortical slices will also strongly benefit from the possibility of a close collaboration with Giorgio Carmignoto who has a long experience in visual cortex slice electrophysiological recordings. In addition, she will be capable to perform in vivo recordings in the visual cortex and will measure CSD in vivo in the transgenic animals.

Five recent publications: (From a total of 55 Peer-reviewed publications)

Migraine: new molecular mechanisms.

Pietrobon D.

Neuroscientist 2005;11:373-86.

Specific kinetic alterations of human CaV2.1 calcium channels produced by mutation S218L causing familial hemiplegic migraine and delayed cerebral edema and coma after minor head trauma.

Tottene A, Pivotto F, Fellin T, Cesetti T, van den Maagdenberg AM, Pietrobon D.

J Biol Chem 2005;280:17678-86.

Modal gating of human CaV2.1 (P/Q-type) calcium channels: II. the b mode and reversible uncoupling of inactivation.

Fellin T, Luvisetto S, Spagnolo M, Pietrobon D.

J Gen Physiol 2004;124:463-74.

Modal gating of human CaV2.1 (P/Q-type) calcium channels: I. The slow and the fast gating modes and their modulation by beta subunits.

Luvisetto S, Fellin T, Spagnolo M, Hivert B, Brust PF, Harpold MM, Stauderman KA, Williams ME, Pietrobon D.

J Gen Physiol 2004;124:445-61.

A Cacna1a knockin migraine mouse model with increased susceptibility to cortical spreading depression.

van den Maagdenberg AM, Pietrobon D, Pizzorusso T, Kaja S, Broos LA, Cesetti T, van de Ven RC, Tottene A, van der Kaa J, Plomp JJ, Frants RR, Ferrari MD.

Neuron 2004;41:701-10.

This page last modified: 06/04/2006