Reference: Maria I. Arnone

Laboratory dedicated to the study of embryonic development of marine organisms, including functional analysis of gene regulatory networks.

It includes areas for molecular biology and in situ hybridization, microinjection and electroporation of zygotes.

It also includes classic and basic biological laboratory equipments.

Systems for experiments

DevBio Lab uses different model organisms such as ascidians (Ciona, Molgula), sea urchins (Paracentrotus, Strongylocentrotus), sea stars (Patiria), amfioxus (Branchistoma) and fishes (Danio).

The lab carries it activities in collaboration with units Meda e MaRe for collecting, rearing and keeping these organisms.

Analysis

• Spatial and temporal study of gene expression during embryonic development by in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, Real Time qPCR (in collaboration with Mb&Bi unit), western blots.
• Disruption of gene expression (knock-out, knock-down, overexpression and transgenesis) by microinjection (antisense oligonucleotides, RNA) or elecroporation (DNA).
• gene expression and morphofunctional analysis fenotipi ottenuti.

Equipments

• Systems for microinjection (microscopes, including stereo and inverted microscopes) in sea urchins, sea squirts and fish.
• Electroporation in eukaryotic cells.
• Stereomicroscopes for observation and manipulation of embryos.
• Cells thermostated (at various temperatures) for the culture of embryos and larvae.
• Microscopes equipped with high-resolution cameras for spatial analysis of gene expression.
• Analysis of movement to characterize behavioral phenotypes.

Reference: Remo Sanges

Laboratory equipped for studies of computational genomics throughout bioinformatics approaches.

Systems for experimentation

Databases, high throughput functional genomics.

Analysis

Computational approaches, bioinformatics, comparative genomics, data-mining (genomics and transcriptomics in marine organisms).

Strumentazioni

• Personal computers.
• Workstations and servers.

Reference: Filomena Ristoratore

Laboratory equipped for the study of molecular aspects of physiological responses of marine organisms at various stages of life cycle.
Includes areas equipped for electrophysiology and molecular biology, cell culture and basic laboratory equipments.

Systems for experimentation

• Genomic amplification and gene expression.
• Electrophysiology.

Analysis

• Physiological responses of marine organisms to stimuli.
• Membrane potential during fertilization events of marine organisms.
• Electrophysiology and Neurophysiology.
• Physiological analysis of immune responses in marine invertebrates.

Equipments

• Eletrophysiological Set-ups.
• Cell culture apparata.
• Molecular biology (nucleic acids and proteins).

Reference: Maria Costantini

The Laboratory of Marine Genomics and Epigenetics is aimed at developing novel approaches for the study of genomes of marine organisms by applying multidisciplinaty approaches.

It encompasses approaches for the study of epigenetic modifications to study the evolution of diversity and adaptative capabilities of organisms.

The Lab includes areas equipped for molecular biology and genomic and proteomic analysis.

Systems for experimentation

• Facilities for molecular analysis applied to the study of genomes of marine organisms.
• Systems for the morpho-functional characterization and genome analysis.

Analysis

• Genomic approaches to study genome organization in marine organisms.
• Transcriptomics.
• Genomic analysis of the functioning of marine organisms and systems.
• Gene expression (Real Time qPCR, Western Blot).
• Proteomic approaches to study epigenetic modifications (metilation, de-metilation, acetylation, histone and chromatine modifications, etc.).
• Proteomic approaches (antibodies) to identify epigenetic modifications induced by evolution and interaction of organisms with the environment.

Equipments

• Electrophoresis, DNA and proteins.
• PCRs including gradient.
• Scanners for micro-arrays and gene expression.