Researchers and technologists

Biography Skills Publications Contacts Biography

Valeria Ugone was born on December 26th, 1988.

She graduated in Chemical Sciences cum laude at the University of Sassari in 2013.

She got the Ph.D. degree (Doctor Europaeus) in Chemical Sciences and Technologies at the University of Cagliari in 2017 with a thesis entitled “Synthesis, characterization and biospeciation of vanadium compounds with potential pharmacological activity”.

In 2016 she did an internship at the Cardiff University School of Chemistry working on the study of the interaction between vanadium compounds and proteins by mass spectrometry techniques.

From 2017 to 2019 she was a collaborator at the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, within the project “Diabetes and Sardinia: a chemical approach using metal complexes”.

In 2018 she worked as postdoctoral researcher at the Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (CDMX, Mexico), participating in the project “Soft functional materials for tissue engineering and controlled drug release”.

From July 2020 she is a researcher at the Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB-CNR) in the section of Sassari. Her research activity concerns the understanding of biospeciation of potential metallodrugs through the combined application of experimental (ESR, ESI-MS, UV-Vis) and computational (DFT) techniques.

Skills Bioinorganic chemistry
Metal compounds
Electron Spin Resonance
Mass spectrometry
DFT calculations Publications

• V. Ugone, D. Sanna, S. Ruggiu, G. Sciortino, E. Garribba, Covalent and non-covalent binding in vanadium–protein adducts, (2021) Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers, 8 (5), 1189 – 1196. DOI: 10.1039/d0qi01308k.

• V. Ugone, D. Sanna, G. Sciortino, D.C. Crans, E. Garribba, ESI-MS Study of the Interaction of Potential

• Oxidovanadium(IV) Drugs and Amavadin with Model Proteins, (2020) Inorganic Chemistry, 59, 9739-9755. DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c00969.

• V. Ugone, D. Sanna, G. Sciortino, J.-D. Maréchal, E. Garribba, Interaction of Vanadium(IV) Species with Ubiquitin: a Combined Instrumental and Computational Approach, (2019) Inorganic Chemistry, 58, 8064-8078. DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b00807.

• D. Sanna, V. Ugone, G. Micera, T. Pivetta, E. Valletta, E. Garribba, Speciation of the Potential Antitumor Agent Vanadocene Dichloride in the Blood Plasma and Model Systems, (2015) Inorganic Chemistry, 54 (17), 8237-8250. DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5b01277.

• D. Sanna, V. Ugone, G. Micera, E. Garribba, Temperature and solvent structure dependence of VO2+ complexes of pyridine-N-oxide derivatives and their interaction with human serum transferrin, (2012) Dalton Transactions, 41 (24), 7304-7318. DOI: 10.1039/c2dt12503j.

Contacts    RESEARCH SITE OF SASSARI

   valeria.ugone@cnr.it

  PEC: valeria.ugone@pec.it

   (+39) 0792841240

Orcid ID: 0000-0002-2830-3869
WoS Researcher ID: AAT-2667-2020
Scopus Author ID: 55249677100 Researchgate Publons View curriculum

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Dr. Fausta Ulgheri graduated in Chemistry (Organic Chemistry) at the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Sassari (Italy) with the thesis “Total Synthesis of Indolizidine Alkaloids” (Journal Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. I, 1993, 2991-2997), under the supervision of Prof. Giovanni Casiraghi. After a post-graduate experience in Italy and abroad working on the design and synthesis of new bioactive molecules, in December 2001 she became a permanent researcher at the CNR-Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry in Sassari in the Department of Chemical Sciences and Materials Technologies.

Her research activity is focused on the development of new synthetic green protocols and on the study, design, and synthesis of new biologically active molecules.

In particular recently:

Design and synthesis of PROTACS as antivirals agents against SARS-CoV-2.

Design and synthesis of non-covalent and non-peptidic inhibitors of caspase-1, for the treatment of dysregulated immune response in neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and in SARS-CoV-2 induced multisystemic inflammation.

Synthesis of Telomerase’s inhibitors as anticancer agents.

Skills Organic Chemistry
Total Synthesis
Green Chemistry
Multicomponent Reactions
Atom Economy
Catalysis
Medicinal Chemistry
Drug Discovery Publications

1) F. Ulgheri, P. Spanu, F. Deligia, G. Loriga, M. P. Fuggetta, I. de Haan, A. Chandgudge, M. Groves, A. Domling, Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 1,5-disubstituted α-amino tetrazole derivatives as non-covalent inflammasome-caspase-1 complex inhibitors with potential application against immune and inflammatory disorders, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2021, in press accepted for publication doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.114002.

2) P. Spanu, MP. Fuggetta, F. Ulgheri, F. Deligia, P. Carta, A. Mannu, V. Trotta, R. De Cicco, A. Barra, E. Zona, F.Morelli; A new synthetic spiroketal: studies on antitumor activity on murine melanoma model In vivo and mechanism of action In vitro, Anticancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2019, 4, 567-578.

3) Fuggetta, M. P.; De Mico, A.; Cottarelli, A.; Morelli, F.; Zonfrillo, M.; Ulgheri, F.; Peluso, P.; Mannu, A.; Deligia, F.; Marchetti, M.; Roviello, G., Reyes Romero, A.; Dömling, A.; Spanu, P. Synthesis and Enantiomeric Separation of a Novel Spiroketal Derivative: A Potent Human Telomerase Inhibitor with High in Vitro Anticancer Activity, J. Med. Chem. 2016, 59, 9140−9149.

4) M. Marchetti, S. Paganelli, D. Carboni, Fausta Ulgheri, G. Del Ponte, Synthesis of Indole Derivatives by Domino Hydroformilation/Indolazion of 2-Nitrocinnamaldheydes, Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical, 2008, 288, 103.

5) Fausta Ulgheri, Mauro Marchetti, Oreste Piccolo, Enantioselective Synthesis of (S)- and (R)-Tolterodine by Asymmetric Hydrogenation of a Coumarin Derivative Obtained by a Heck Reaction, Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2007, 72, 6056.

Contacts    RESEARCH SITE OF SASSARI

   fausta.ulgheri@cnr.it

 (+39) 079 2841222 View curriculum

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I graduated in 2004 in “Biomedical Laboratory Technician”. I worked for about 5 years in another research institute, and, in 2009, I arrived at the Institute of Biomelecular Chemistry in the Endocannabinoid Research Group directed by Dr. Di Marzo. I deal with the extraction and purification of bioactive lipids and amides from tissues and organic liquids and their quantification using Mass Spectrometry techniques. In recent years I have also dealt with the purchase of laboratory material: I am registered in the National Register of RUP of the CNR referred to in prot. CNR n. 3083 / 10-12-2020 and I am qualified as an Instructor Point from 21-01-21 for purchases in MEPA.

Skills Endocannabinoids
Mass spectrometry
Cell biology
Lipids
Bioactive amides Publications

• Kostrzewa M, Mahmoud AM, Verde R, Scotto di Carlo F, Gianfrancesco F, Piscitelli F, Ligresti A. Modulation of Endocannabinoid Tone in Osteoblastic Differentiation of MC3T3-E1 Cells and in Mouse Bone Tissue over Time. Cells. 2021 May 14;10(5):1199. doi: 10.3390/cells10051199.

• Isaac AR, de Velasco PC, Fraga KYD, Tavares-do-Carmo MDG, Campos RMP, Iannotti FA, Verde R, Martins DBG, Santos TA, Ferreira BK, de Mello FG, Di Marzo V, Andrade-da-Costa BLDS, de Melo Reis RA. Maternal omega-3 intake differentially affects the endocannabinoid system in the progeny`s neocortex and hippocampus: Impact on synaptic markers. J Nutr Biochem. 2021 Oct;96:108782. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2021.108782. Epub 2021 May 24.

• Manzo E, Schiano Moriello A, Tinto F, Verde R, Allarà M, De Petrocellis L, Pagano E, Izzo AA, Di Marzo V, Petrosino S. A Glucuronic Acid-Palmitoylethanolamide Conjugate (GLUPEA) Is an Innovative Drug Delivery System and a Potential Bioregulator. Cells. 2021 Feb 20;10(2):450. doi: 10.3390/cells10020450.

• Piscitelli F, Guida F, Luongo L, Iannotti FA, Boccella S, Verde R, Lauritano A, Imperatore R, Smoum R, Cristino L, Lichtman AH, Parker LA, Mechoulam R, Maione S, Di Marzo V.  Protective Effects of N-Oleoylglycine in a Mouse Model of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2020 Apr 15;11(8):1117-1128. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00633. Epub 2020 Apr 2.

• Giacovazzo G, Bisogno T, Piscitelli F, Verde R, Oddi S, Maccarrone M, Coccurello R. Different Routes to Inhibit Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase: Do All Roads Lead to the Same Place? Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Sep 11;20(18):4503. doi: 10.3390/ijms20184503.

Contacts

   MAIN RESEARCH SITE, POZZUOLI (NA)

   roberta.verde@cnr.it

  PEC: roberta.verde@pec.it

   (+39) 081/8675191-5193

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   MAIN RESEARCH SITE, POZZUOLI (NA)

   rosaria.villano@cnr.it

   (+39) 081 8675126

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Rosa Maria Vitale received the master degree with honors in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies in 1997 at the University of Naples “Federico II”. In 2003 she received a post-graduated Specialization degree in “Biotechnological Applications” with honors and in 2004 the PhD degree in “Design and use of molecules of biotechnological interest” at University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”. From 2004 to 2007 she was CNR TD researcher at the Biostructure and Bioimaging Institute (IBB-CNR) and since 2007 she is CNR permanent researcher at the Biomolecular Chemistry Institute (ICB-CNR). Her research activity is centered on computational chemistry, particularly focused on molecular modeling of protein systems and their complexes, homology modeling, drug design and molecular simulations of biomolecular systems, in particular GPCRs, receptor ions channels belonging to the TRP family and nuclear receptors. Presently, the research activity is mainly oriented at the: 1) identification of novel ligands from natural and synthetic sources for molecular targets of pharmacological interest by docking-based virtual screenings plus molecular dynamics simulations, and/or ligand-based cheminformatics, 2) repositioning of already-approved drugs, 3) determination of structure-activity relationships for series of structurally- or functionally-related compounds.

Skills Molecular Modelling
Molecular Docking
Molecular dynamics simulations
Structure-activity relationships
In silico screening Publications

1. Vitale RM*, Iannotti FA, Schiano Moriello A, Tunisi L, Piscitelli F, Savopoulos R, Cristino L, De Petrocellis L, Amodeo P, Gray R, Di Marzo V*. Identification and Characterization of Cannabidiol as an OX1R Antagonist by Computational and In Vitro Functional Validation. Biomolecules. 2021 Aug 1;11(8):1134. doi: 10.3390/biom11081134 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34439801/

2. Vitale RM, Avonto C, Del Prete D, Moriello AS, Amodeo P, Appendino G, De Petrocellis L. Discovery of a Remarkable Methyl Shift Effect in the Vanilloid Activity of Triterpene Amides. J Nat Prod. 2020;83(11):3476-3481. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c00639. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33136399/

3. Vitale RM, Thellung S, Tinto F, Solari A, Gatti M, Nuzzo G, Ioannou E, Roussis V, Ciavatta ML, Manzo E, Florio T, Amodeo P. Identification of the hydantoin alkaloids parazoanthines as novel CXCR4 antagonists by computational and in vitro functional characterization. Bioorg Chem. 2020 Dec;105:104337. doi: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.104337. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33113408/

4. D’Aniello E, Fellous T, Iannotti FA, Gentile A, Allarà M, Balestrieri F, Gray R, Amodeo P, Vitale RM*, Di Marzo V*. Identification and characterization of phytocannabinoids as novel dual PPARα/γ agonists by a computational and in vitro experimental approach. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj. 2019 Mar;1863(3):586-597. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2019.01.002. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30611848/

5. Schiano Moriello A, López Chinarro S, Novo Fernández O, Eras J, Amodeo P, Canela-Garayoa R, Vitale RM*, Di Marzo V, De Petrocellis L.* Elongation of the Hydrophobic Chain as a Molecular Switch: Discovery of Capsaicin Derivatives and Endogenous Lipids as Potent Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid Channel 2 Antagonists. J Med Chem. 2018 Sep 27;61(18):8255-8281. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00734. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30176215/

Contacts

  MAIN RESEARCH SITE, POZZUOLI (NA)

   rosamaria.vitale@cnr.it

   (+39) 081 8675316

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9243-1307

Scopus
Author ID: 7006928706

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Dr. Vincenzo Zambrano, born in Sassari on September 13, 1972, obtained the high school degree at the “G.Spano” Scientific high school, Sassari, July 1991.

He graduated in Chemistry at the University of Sassari on 10 November 1997 with a final grades of 110/110 cum laude, discussing an experimental thesis entitled “Rhodium complexes with pyridines and 2,2 ‘- substituted bipyridines” , supervisor Prof. Giovanni Minghetti, co-supervisor Dr. Antonio Zucca.

He obtained the qualification to the profession of chemist in november 1997.

He received his PhD in Chemical Sciences at the University of Sassari on February 27, 2004, discussing an experimental thesis entitled “Variable synthesis of carbasugars and their analogues”, tutor Dr. Luigi Pinna, co-tutor Dr. Gloria Rassu.

Following a public competition he took up service at the Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry from 02/01/2008 with the qualification of Technologist.

Skills NMR (mono and 2D experiments)
Organic synthesis
Drug discovery
Homogeneous catalysis Publications

1. Zambrano Vincenzo; Rassu Gloria; Roggio Annamaria; Pinna Luigi; Zanardi Franca Curti Claudio; Casiraghi Giovanni; Battistini Lucia Asymmetric total synthesis of 1-deoxy-7,8-di-epi-castanospermine Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry Volume 8, Issue 7, Pages 1725 – 1730 2010 – DOI 10.1039/b924721a
2. Curti Claudio; Rassu Gloria; Zambrano Vincenzo; Pinna Luigi; Pelosi Giorgio; Sartori Andrea; Battistini Lucia; Zanardi Franca; Casiraghi Giovanni Angewandte Chemie – International Edition Volume 51, Issue 25, Pages 6200 – 6204 2012 – DOI 10.1002/anie.201202027
3. Dell’Amico Luca; Rassu Gloria; Zambrano Vincenzo; Sartori Andrea; Curti Claudio; Battistini Lucia; Pelosi Giorgio; Casiraghi Giovanni; Zanardi Franca Journal of the American Chemical Society Volume 136, Issue 31, Pages 11107 – 11114 2014 – DOI 10.1021/ja5054576
4. Brindani Nicoletta; Rassu Gloria; Dell’Amico Luca; Zambrano Vincenzo; Pinna Luigi; Curti Claudio; Sartori Andrea; Battistini Lucia; Casiraghi Giovanni; Pelosi Giorgio; Greco Daniela; Zanardi Franca Angewandte Chemie – International Edition Volume 54, Issue 25, Pages 7386 – 73901 2015
5. Curti Claudio; Rassu Gloria; Lombardo Marco; Zambrano Vincenzo; Pinna Luigi; Battistini Lucia; Sartori Andrea; Pelosi Giorgio; Zanardi Franca Angewandte Chemie – International Edition Volume 59, Issue 45, Pages 20055 – 20064 2020

Contacts

  RESEARCH SITE OF SASSARI

   vincenzo.zambrano@cnr.it

  PEC: v.zambrano@pec.chimici.it

   (+39) 0792841210

Orcid:

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7527-4645

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