PhD Student UNINA
Section BEOM
Tel. +39 081 5833277
Fax: +39 081 7641355
e-mail rosamaria.sepe(at)szn.it
Skype: ros.sepe
Research interests
The endocannabinoid system is a group of neuromodulatory lipids able to regulate neuronal excitability and are involved in a variety of physiological processes. Recent studies on endocannabinoid system functions on neurogenesis revealed an unprecedented role in axon elongation, axon fasciculation and circuit direction.
The 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is an endocannabinoid, present at relatively high levels in the central nervous system, where the activities of diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) respectively mediate its synthesis and hydrolysis.
My research interest is focused on studying the role of 2-AG on neurons growth and differentiation, and on the formation of neural circuits controlling locomotor activity and connections in the visual system, using zebrafish embryos and larvae as model systems. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is one of the vertebrates most used as in vivo model for genetic and developmental biology studies, thanks to some very advantageous characteristics, such as high fertility, the production of a large number of transparent embryos and the conservation of position and function of internal organs, which allows a direct comparison with those of humans.
For my studies, I use optical and confocal microscopy techniques, various molecular biology (In situ hybridization, real-time PCR) and biochemical techniques (Immunohistochemistry and Western blot)
Journal Papers
Pastore N, Nusco E, Vaníkova J, Sepe RM, Vetrini F, McDonagh A, Auricchio A, Vitek L, Brunetti-Pierri N. (2012). Sustained Reduction of Hyperbilirubinemia in Gunn Rats after Adeno-Associated Virus-Mediated Gene Transfer of Bilirubin UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase Isozyme 1A1 to Skeletal Muscle. Hum Gene Ther., 10: 1082-9
Pastore N, Blomenkamp K, Annunziata F, Piccolo P, Mithbaokar P, Sepe RM, Vetrini F, Palmer D, Ng P, Polishchuk E, Iacobacci S, Polishchuk R, Teckman J, Ballabio A, Brunetti-Pierri N. (2013). Gene transfer of master autophagy regulator TFEB results in clearance of toxic protein and correction of hepatic disease in alpha-1-anti-trypsin deficiency. EMBO Mol Med., 3:397-412
