Organelle Contact Sites
Over the past few decades, it has become clear that intracellular organelles communicate with each other in order to meet the cell's physiological needs. This type of communication is mediated by sites of close proximity between organelles, known as 'organelle contact sites'. These sites are extremely dynamic and vary depending on metabolic conditions, stimuli, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and pathological conditions. Our lab is particularly interested in understanding the mechanisms by which cells maintain a certain distance between organelles, either by tethering or spacing biological membranes.
To know more on contact sites:
Knedlik T, Giacomello M (2024) Temporal dynamics of membrane contact sites. Nat Cell Biol 26:1822-1824 10.1038/s41556-024-01539-z
Giacomello M, Pyakurel A, Glytsou C, Scorrano L (2020) The cell biology of mitochondrial membrane dynamics. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 21:204-224
10.1038/s41580-020-0210-7
To know more on mtDNA and contacts:
Vianello C, Cocetta V, Caicci F, Boldrin F, Montopoli M, Martinuzzi A, Carelli V, Giacomello M (2020) Interaction Between Mitochondrial DNA Variants and Mitochondria/Endoplasmic Reticulum Contact Sites: A Perspective Review. DNA Cell Biol 39:1431-1443
10.1089/dna.2020.5614
High-Content Imaging and Fluorescence Microscopy
Our lab also focuses on fluorescence microscopy and the development of GFP-based genetically encoded probes to investigate cellular dynamics with high spatial resolution. We have established advanced high-content imaging platforms that enable quantitative and multiparametric analysis of complex cellular phenotypes. Several fluorescence microscopy–based high-content imaging screens are currently running in our laboratory, and we are always enthusiastic about new collaborations and screening projects.
More information about these topics can be found here:
Vianello C, Cocetta V, Catanzaro D et al. (2022) Cisplatin resistance can be curtailed by blunting Bnip3-mediated mitochondrial autophagy. Cell Death Dis 13, 398
10.1038/s41419-022-04741-9
Vianello C, Dal Bello F, Shin SH, Schiavon S, Bean C, Magalhães Rebelo AP, Knedlík T, Esfahani EN, Costiniti V, Lacruz RS, Covello G, Munari F, Scolaro T, Viola A, Rampazzo E, Persano L, Zumerle S, Scorrano L, Gianelle A, Giacomello M (2023) High-Throughput Microscopy Analysis of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential in 2D and 3D Models. Cells 12
10.3390/cells12071089
The Charm of Melanogenesis
Over the past five years, with the support of the Leo Foundation, our lab has started a new area of research focusing on the intricate cellular processes underlying melanin synthesis. Unexpectedly, our team discovered that a mitochondrial fission factor plays a role in melanosome biogenesis.
Find out more about this fascinating work:
Magalhães Rebelo AP, Maracani A, Greco S, Dal Bello F, Santorelli L, Gerdol M, Pallavicini A, Knedlik T, Schiavon S, Scorrano L, Goff PS, Frezza C, Sviderskaya EV, Grumati P, Giacomello M (2026) MFF budding from mitochondria regulates melanosome size and maturation. Nat Commun
10.1038/s41467-026-70572-3
Funding
