Catalogo dei Corsi di studio

PRESENT POSITION:
Associate Professor in Molecular Biology (05/E2 - SSD BIO/11) Department of Biochemical Sciences 'A. Rossi Fanelli' - SAPIENZA, University of Rome.

EDUCATION AND CARRIER
2016-2019 Researcher with tenure track SAPIENZA, University of Rome
2015-2016 Post-doctoral fellowship (1 year) SAPIENZA, University of Rome
2012-2015 Researcher (full-time, art. 24 c.3-a L. 240/10) SAPIENZA, University of Rome
2009-2012 Post-doctoral fellowship SAPIENZA, University of Rome
2007-to date Teaching in the Faculty of Medicine SAPIENZA, University of Rome
2005-2008 Post-doctoral research contract SAPIENZA, University of Rome
2006 PhD - Biochemistry (Mentor Prof. M. Brunori) SAPIENZA, University of Rome
2002 Degree cum laude in Biology SAPIENZA, University of Rome

APPOINTMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS
2021 Co Task-leader for End-users training schools and short courses MOSBRI H2020-INFRAIA
2018 National Scientific Qualification Biochemistry (05/E1 - SSD BIO/10) - Full Professor
2017 National Scientific Qualification Biochemistry (05/E1 - SSD BIO/10) - Associate Professor
2015 National Scientific Qualification Molecular Biology (05/E2 - SSD BIO/11) - Associate Professor
2012 Ministry of Education, University and Research Coordinator and principal investigator of the project FIRB-FUTURO IN RICERCA 2010 RBFR10LHD1
2007 ESTACIÓN EXPERIMENTAL DEL ZAIDÍN- Granada (E) Short term scientific mission aboard granted by the European COST Action 856
2004 Free University of Amsterdam (NL) Short term scientific mission aboard granted by European COST Action 856 and Societa' Italiana di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare (SIB)

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
The scientific activity of Serena Rinaldo is focused on the molecular aspects of proteins involved in biological processes crucial for cell maintenance and communication to dissect the mechanism of pathological conditions (including chronic infections and cancer), using a multidisciplinary approach encompassing Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Structural Biology.
A schematic summary of the main research lines is reported below:
- Small molecules (nucleotides) involved in the formation of bacterial biofilm in chronic infections; integration of protein engineering and molecular biophysics approaches allowed the identification of structural determinants controlling the interaction of selected enzymes with small molecules (such as c-di-GMP, nucleotides and metals) and inhibitors, identified thanks to fruitful collaborations with medicinal chemists (Prof. Cappellacci l., Camerino, I). More recently, the role of strategic nutrients in controlling c-di-GMP levels has been investigated by mechanistic approach.
- Role of nitric oxide and redox metabolism in bacterial pathogens; the specific expertise acquired during the PhD and the first Post-Doc period of Serena Rinaldo allowed to re-evaluate the role of oxygen and the interaction of nitric oxide with metalloproteins and, broadly speaking, with the heme cofactor, as acknowledged by the publication records.
- Metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells and ageing, by looking at the role of enzymes of the serine/glycine pathway and one-carbon metabolism; she contributed to define the role of SHMT protein dynamic upon cofactor and substrates binding, relevant to rationally design compounds able to inhibit protein function. She developed a binding assay for testing enzyme inhibitors.

FUNDING
Principal Investigator:

2023-2025 Nucleotide-based tools to inhibit nanoRNA degradation in cells: is REXO2 a novel target in cancer therapy? 2022KC3X9L PRIN Granted by EU Next Generation EU 184921
2022 FEMS Meeting Organizer Grant (25th European Nitrogen cycle meeting, FEMS-GO-2021-048) Federation of European Microbiological Societies 5000
2021 25th European Nitrogen Cycle meeting. CC12117A599C4755 Sapienza - Università di Roma 4300
2020-2023 -Sapienza Università di Roma - Tuning c-di-GMP in Pseudomonas aeruginosa to control biofilm dispersion: molecular mechanism of signal transduction in response to environmental cues. RM120172A7AD98EB ( 33787)
2019-2021 - Istituto Pasteur - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti -Sensing arginine through the Venus Fly Trap domain to control c-di-GMP levels in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: molecular mechanism and metabolic effects of signal transduction ( 40000)
2017-2020 Sapienza - Universita' di Roma - Nucleotide signalling in prokaryotes and eukaryotes: from proteins to metabolic networks ( 8000)
2017 MIUR- Finanziamento delle attività base di ricerca ( 3000)
2012-2016 MIUR - FIRB-FUTURO IN RICERCA 2010 - BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF CYCLIC DI-GMP AND QUORUM SENSING SIGNALING PATHWAYS IN PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA. RBFR10LHD1; Coordinator of two research units ( 453300).
Research Unit member in more than 15 projects in the last ten years.

OTHERS
Supervisor of the ProFacT, Protein FActory Training Lab in Sapienza
Data Analyst in the HypACB facility for oxygen-controlled respiration measurement.