Claudia Sissi
 | Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova
Contacts |
Short CV
Born in Venice on 25/08/1966
1991: Degree summa cum laude in Medicinal Chemistry and Technology, University of Padova
1991-1994: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, at the Dept of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Padova (Supervisor: Prof. M. Palumbo)
1993-1994: visiting scientist at the Dept. of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
1994-2002: Post-Doc at the Dept of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Padova
2002-2004: Technician at the Dept of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Padova
2004-2009: Assistant Professor (CHIM/08)
2009-2015: Associate Professor (CHIM/08)
2015-present: Full Professor (CHIM/08)
Teaching
Office hours
by appointment only
Availability for Thesis Projects
- Structural characterization of nucleic acid sequences from oncogenic promoter
- Ligands for selective recognitions of non-canonical DNA structures
- Nucleic acid targeting by metal complexes
- Topoisomerases poisons and inhibitors
Research
Scientific Activities
The research is largely focused on the quantitative analysis of the interactions between biological macromolecules (proteins, polysaccharide, nucleic acids) with small ligands presenting potential pharmacological activity. In the most recent years it mainly focused on the characterization of the structural equilibria occurring in DNA sequences that can play relevant roles as signaling elements. This work is implemented by the identification of ligands for these systems as well as by the definition of the binding parameters and binding mode in order to provide a rational for the biological functions.
Currently, several collaborations are ongoing with italian (Dept. of comparative biomedicine and food science, University of Padova; Istituto Tumori of Milano, IIT of Genova, University of Firenze, Trieste, Bologna, Napoli and Catanzaro) and foreign research groups (Universities of London, Southampton and John Innes Center, UK; University of Mississippi and Georgia State University, USA; Cancer Research Center of Marseille; France).
Claudia Sissi is member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Current Medicinal Chemistry and Frontiers. She is a member of AACR, ACS and SCI.
In 2013 she won a prize for the set up for a start-up (Start cup veneto) for the production of a kit, based on a novel approach, for the detection of mRNA in biological fluids.
Technical expertise
The main experience concerns spectroscopic and molecular-biology techniques.
In particular:
- Spectroscopic techniques (absorption UV-VIS, fluorescence, circular dichroism)
- Microcalorimetric techniques (ITC)
- Surface Plasmon Resonance
- Electrophoretic techniques (proteins, nucleic acids)
- Nucleic acid manipulation
- Enzymatic assay
- Library screening
Publications
- Sissi, C. and Palumbo, M. (2010) In front of and behind the replication fork: bacterial type IIA topoisomerases, Cell Mol Life Sci, 67, 2001-2024, ISSN 1420-682X; IF 5.865
- Alcaro, S., Musetti, C., Distinto, S., Casatti, M., Zagotto, G., Artese, A., Parrotta, L., Moraca, F., Costa, G., Ortuso, F., Maccioni, E. and Sissi, C. (2013) Identification and characterization of new DNA G-quadruplex binders selected by a combination of ligand and structure-based virtual screening approaches, J Med Chem, 56, 843-855, ISSN 0022-2623; IF 5.480
- Bianco, S., Musetti, C., Krapcho, A. P., Palumbo, M. and Sissi, C. (2013) Ni2+ and Cu2+ complexes of a phenanthroline-based ligand bind to G-quadruplexes at non-overlapping sites, Chem Commun (Camb), 49, 8057-8059, ISSN 1359-7345; IF 6.718
- Pinato, O., Musetti, C. and Sissi, C. (2014) Pt-based drugs: the spotlight will be on proteins, Metallomics, 6, 380-395, ISSN 1756-5901; IF 3.978
- Greco, M. L., Folini, M. and Sissi, C. (2015) Double stranded promoter region of BRAF undergoes to structural rearrangement in nearly physiological conditions, FEBS Lett, 589, 2117-2123; IF 3.169
Research projects and Funds
2016-2017: Principal Invetigator Assegni di ricerca – CPDR151901/15: "Conformational switch of EGFR and BRAF oncogene promoter sequences towards non-canonical DNA secondary structures as anticancer treatment"
2015-2016 : Principal Invetigator Progetti di Ricerca di Ateneo-2014 (CPDA147272/14), "G-rich regions within proto-oncogene KIT promoter region as targets for anticancer therapy".
2012-2014 : Principal Invetigator Cariparo (PARO110203/11) "Dispositivi Molecolari Selettivi per il riconoscimento di strutture “G-quadruplexes”
SCUOLA Scienze Molecolari IND. Scienze Farmaceutiche"
2012-2013 : Participant Progetti di Ricerca di Ateneo-2011 (CPDA114388): “Targeting cKit espression in canine mast cell tumor”.
2011-2012: Research Unit Coordinator PRIN 2009 (2009MFRKZ8_004): “Dispositivi molecolari diretti verso strutture G-quadruplx: riconoscimento del bersaglio e risposta cellulare”.
2011-2012: Principal Invetigator Assegni di ricerca – 2010 (CPDR108549/10): “Nuove chinossaline ad azione antitumorale”.
2011-2012: Principal Invetigator AIRC – 2010 (CPDR108549/10): “Targeting G-quadruplex structures as potential anticancer approach”.
2009-2014 : Participant FIRB-IDEAS (RBID082ATK): “Nuovi farmaci per la terapia anticancro mirata”.
2008-2012 : Principal Invetigator MPNS COST Action MP0802: “Self-assembled guanosine structures for molecular electronic devices”
2008-2010 : Participant Progetti AIRC: “Novel telomere-targeted chemotherapeutic agents”.
2008-2010 : Research Unit Coordinator Progetti Strategici di Ateneo: “Processi di invasione e metastasi nel cancro: nuovi meccanismi e prospettive terapeutiche”.
2008-2009 : Principal Invetigator Progetti di Ricerca di Ateneo-2007 (CPDA078422/07): “Simociclinoni: inibitori delle topo isomerasi caratterizzarti da un innovativo meccanismo d’azione”.
2007-2008 : Participant PRIN 2006 (2006030809_002): “Nuovi derivati chinolonici anti-HIV: screening dell’attività biologica e riconoscimento di acidi nucleici virali”.
2005-2006 : Participant PRIN 2004 (2004037792_004): “Nuovi derivati chinolonici anti-HIV: riconoscimento di acidi nucleici virali e valutazione dell'attività”.
2004-2007 : Participant FIRB: “Glicosamminoglicani antagonisti di elastasi e selettine come farmaci antinfiammatori”. Coordinatore nazionale: Prof. G. Torri
2004-2006 : Participant CEE-STREP, Sixth Framework Programme: “Development of New Gyrase Inhibitors by Combinatorial Biosynthesis”.
2003-2004 : Participant PRIN 2002 (2002038878_003): “Progettazione razionale e approccio alla sintesi di nuovi "veleni" della DNA-topoisomerasi I umana”.
2001-2003 : Participant Progetti di Ricerca di Ateneo (PADOVA): “Nuove nucleasi sintetiche: progettazione, reattivita’ ed applicazioni biofarmaceutiche”.
2001-2002 : Participant PRIN 2000: “DNA Topoisomerasi I”.
2001-2002: Participant Regione Veneto – Ricerca sanitaria finalizzata. Titolo della ricerca “Basi molecolari della resistenza/suscettibilità ai fluorochinoloni in Mycobacterium tubercolosis: ricadute diagnostiche e approcci terapeutici”.
1999-2002 : Participant CEE-STREP, Fifth Framework Programme: “Anthracene conjugates as probes of telomere structure and function”.
2004-2015 : Principal Invetigator Ex 60% Projects, University of Padova.
