Dr. Nadia Marano
St. Lawrence University
Submitted by nmarano on Tue, 06/24/2008 - 16:20.
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Courses I teach regularly:
General Chemistry, Biochemistry, Advanced Biochemistry, Research Methods in Biochemistry
My research interests:
Misfolding and aggregation of proteins - Proteins fold into specific shapes that are key to their function. Proteins can unfold and misfold eventually aggregating into fibers with particular characteristics called amyloid fibers. While many proteins can do this under adverse conditions, some do so in living organisms and contribute to diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Interactions between lipids and proteins - Unfolded or aggregated proteins can disturb the normal structure of the lipi-containing membranes that are essential to the integrity of cells and thus contribute to cell death. In addition, the lipids in membranes can accelerate the unfolding and aggregation process of proteins aggrevating the problem.
Cellular signaling, especially the role of protein-lippid interactions and lipid rafts
Sample student projects I have supervised:
Fraser Mackay: Characterizing the interactions in vitro between the amyloid protein HypF-N and liposomes composed of phosphotidylcholine and phosphotidylserine
Jane Mutoru: Insolubility of T-Cell Receptors in Human Jurkat T-Cells
Tim Errington, Joel Blanchard, Wanja Nyoro: Analysis of T cell lipids
Examples of presentations, exhibitions, performances and published work:
Prinetti, A., V. Chigorno, S. Prioni, N. Loberto, N. Marano, G. Tettamanti, and S. Sonnino (2001) Changes in the lipid turnover, composition and organization, as sphingolipid-enriched membrane domains, in rat cerebellar granule cells developing in vitro. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 276: 21136-21145.
Marano, N., and Mutoru, J. (presenter) (2006). - Insolubility of T-Cell Receptors in Human Jurkat T-Cells. Poster presentation at the 231st ACS National Meeting.
Nadia Marano, Walt Jennings, and Anil Waghe. ACS Advanced Chemistry. Workshop facilitator for 30 high school teachers, Austinn, TX, July 13-16, 2008.
Ways I offer service to my discipline and/or the University:
Professional Standards Committee
Academic Affairs Committee
I Reviewed project proposals for CNISM - National (Italy) Interuniversity Consortium for Material Science
Examples of my work as a visiting scholar or guest at another institution:
During my 2006-2007 sabbatical I worked on interactions between lipids and amyloid-forming protein as a visiting researcher at the University of Genoa
My hobbies and/or personal interests:
biking, hiking, cross country skiing, dancing