Education and Academic appointments 2020- Associate Professor,Dep of Biology, University of Padova 2017-2020 Tenure-Track Assistant Professor, Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, University of Padova, Italy 2014-2017 Assistant Professor, Biochemistry and Mitochondrial Pathophysiology, Department of Biology, University of Padua, Italy. 2004 Ph.D. Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (Molecular and Cellular Biology and Pathology) 1999 B.S. Biological Degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Alcalà de Henares, Madrid, Spain. Publication Record H-index:20 Publications: 40 Number citations: 2320 Average citations per Year: 117.70 Editorial activity -Editorial Board: Frontiers in Physiology, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology and Biology Direct. -Guest editor of the Special Issue, "Molecular Research on Mitochondrial Dysfunction" for IJMS. 2022 -Frequent Reviewer activity: Plos Genetics; Cell death & Differentiation; PLOS One; Biochemical Pharmacology; Biology Direct; Biology Open; Biochemistry and Cell Biology; Scientific World Journal; Molecular Oncology; BBA; Journal of Cell Biology, Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, Frontiers in Physiology, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology Visiting Scientist stages 2009-2012: Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares(CNIC), Madrid, Spain. Project collaboration: Proteomic studies on mitochondrial protein complexes. Lab. Prof. J.A. Enriquez. Two months/year 2004: Proteomic studies in mitochondria, at Institute of Biomedicine /Biochemistry, University of Helsinki at Biomedicum, Finland. Lab. Prof. O.Eriksson. Four months Institutional responsibilities 2018-present: Member, Department Press Committee, University of Padova (IT) 2017-present: Member, Ph.D. School in Biosciences, University of Padova (IT) 2018-present: Member, Teaching Committee, Biology Degree, University of Padova (IT) 2022: Member, Department Retreat Steering Committee, Dept Biology, Univesity of Padova (IT)

Curriculum PDF File

Mitochondrial diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by dysfunctional OXPHOS activity. A growing number of mutations in mitochondrial proteins codified by nuclear or mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been associated with mitochondrial disorders. However, the number is still increasing. A crucial aspect to ensure a correct mitochondrial function is the maintenance of mtDNA, ensuring its segregation, replication, and functioning. One of the main research interests of our lab is to understand the molecular mechanisms regulating mtDNA dynamics, and how alteration in this process might affect the onset or progression of mitochondrial diseases. A parallel research line currently ongoing is focused on the study of the mitochondrial ATAD3 protein family. This family exists as a single gene up to primates, in which it suffered a double in tandem gene duplication giving rise to ATAD3B and the putative pseudogene ATAD3C. ATAD3B is expressed only during embryogenesis in pluripotent cells, and in some tumors, suggesting a correlation between the expression of the protein and the presence of a glycolytic metabolism which is characteristic of the indicated cell types. Therefore a complementary research interest of our lab is to understand whether and how ATAD3B regulates metabolism and its implications for stemness or tumor progression.

1. Role of ATAD3A in the regulation of mitochondrial ultrastructure, dynamics and mtDNA stability: implications for Mitochondrial Depletion Syndromes and Harel-Yoon disease 2. Exploring the ATAD3B role in lung cancer and chemoresistance. 3. Regulation of ATAD3B expression during embryogenesis: implications for cell pluripotency

Last update: 26/06/2025