Stefano Gastaldello
Senior research specialist
About me
Current Position:
Associate Professor, Docent in Physiology.
Academic formation:
2006 PhD in Biology and Molecular Cell Pathology. University of Padua, Italy.
2002 Molecular Biology degree at the University of Padua (110/110 cum laude).
Postdoctoral courses:
2017 Course for Leadership and research group leader.
2013 Pedagogy course for doctoral supervisors.
2012 Basic Course in Education for University Teachers.
2011 Introductory Doctoral Supervision Course.
Research description
SUMOylation is an important drug targetable posttranslational modification that regulates protein functions and contributes to several intracellular process including transcription, DNA repair, chromatin remodeling, signal transduction, etc. Particularly, various stress conditions are known to promote global changes in the SUMOylation network, both in cell cultures and at the organs level. Moreover, defect on the SUMOylation machinery have been associated with severe diseases such as neurodegeneration, muscle atrophy, cancer and heart failure.
My research interest is focused to study:
• The SUMO network in the skeletal muscle pathophysiology: from bench-to-bedside and beyond.
• Alteration of the SUMO and Ubiquitin proteasome system networks in Rhabdomyosarcoma cells – a new approach to study the proliferative and metastatic properties of this tumor. In collaboration with Prof. Alessandro Fanzani, Brescia University, Italy.
• The role of SUMO posttranslational modification during myogenesis in normal and in pathological conditions.
• Skeletal muscle pathophysiology during aging and muscle inflammation like myositis.
The results will shed light on basic questions in the muscle field that will lead to better treatment of muscle diseases and greater insights into regenerative medicine.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2022
Hyperactive Akt1 Signaling Increases Tumor Progression and DNA Repair in Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma RD Line and Confers Susceptibility to Glycolysis and Mevalonate Pathway Inhibitors 
Authors Codenotti, S; Zizioli, D; Mignani, L; Rezzola, S; Tabellini, G; Parolini, S; Giacomini, A; Asperti, M; Poli, M; Mandracchia, D; Vezzoli, M; Bernardi, S; Russo, D; Mitola, S; Monti, E; Triggiani, L; Tomasini, D; Gastaldello, S; Cassandri, M; Rota, R; Marampon, F; Fanzani, A. Source Cells
Citrullination is linked to reduced Ca2+ sensitivity in hearts of a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors Pironti, G; Gastaldello, S; Rassier, DE; Lanner, JT; Carlström, M; Lund, LH; Westerblad, H; Yamada, T; Andersson, DC. Source Acta physiologica (Oxford, England)
2021
Caveolin-1 promotes radioresistance in rhabdomyosarcoma through increased oxidative stress protection and DNA repair
Authors Codenotti, S; Marampon, F; Triggiani, L; Bonù, ML; Magrini, SM; Ceccaroli, P; Guescini, M; Gastaldello, S; Tombolini, V; Poliani, PL; Asperti, M; Poli, M; Monti, E; Fanzani, A. Source Cancer letters
Rare genetic variability in human drug target genes modulates drug response and can guide precision medicine
Authors Zhou, Y; Arribas, GH; Turku, A; Jürgenson, T; Mkrtchian, S; Krebs, K; Wang, Y; Svobodova, B; Milani, L; Schulte, G; Korabecny, J; Gastaldello, S; Lauschke, VM
Source Science advances
Changes in basement membrane components in an experimental model of skeletal muscle degeneration and regeneration induced by snake venom and myotoxic phospholipase A2
Authors Escalante, T; Saravia-Otten, P; Gastaldello, S; Hernández, R; Marín, A; García, G; García, L; Estrada, E; Rucavado, A; Gutiérrez, JM
Source Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
2020
Expression of SUMO enzymes is fiber type dependent in skeletal muscles and is dysregulated in muscle disuse
Authors Namuduri, AV; Heras, G; Lauschke, VM; Vitadello, M; Traini, L; Cacciani, N; Gorza, L; Gastaldello, S
Source FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
High glucose-induced oxidative stress accelerates myogenesis by altering SUMO reactions
Authors Liu, X; Heras, G; Lauschke, VM; Mi, J; Tian, G; Gastaldello, S
Source Experimental cell research
Vitamin C and E Treatment Blocks Changes in Kynurenine Metabolism Triggered by Three Weeks of Sprint Interval Training in Recreationally Active Elderly Humans
Authors Wyckelsma, VL; Trepci, A; Schwieler, L; Venckunas, T; Brazaitis, M; Kamandulis, S; Paulauskas, H; Gapeyeva, H; Paasuke, M; Gastaldello, S; Imbeault, S; Westerblad, H; Erhardt, S; Andersson, DC
Source ANTIOXIDANTS
Vitamin C and E Treatment Blunts Sprint Interval Training-Induced Changes in Inflammatory Mediator-, Calcium-, and Mitochondria-Related Signaling in Recreationally Active Elderly Humans
Authors Wyckelsma, VL; Venckunas, T; Brazaitis, M; Gastaldello, S; Snieckus, A; Eimantas, N; Baranauskiene, N; Subocius, A; Skurvydas, A; Pääsuke, M; Gapeyeva, H; Kaasik, P; Pääsuke, R; Jürimäe, J; Graf, BA; Kayser, B; Place, N; Andersson, DC; Kamandulis, S; Westerblad, H
Source Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2019
Muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF1) functions and cellular localization are regulated by SUMO1 post-translational modification
Authors Heras, G; Namuduri, AV; Traini, L; Shevchenko, G; Falk, A; Bergström Lind, S; Jia, M; Tian, G; Gastaldello, S
Source Journal of molecular cell biology
2017
A Proteomic Approach to Identify Alterations in the Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO) Network during Controlled Mechanical Ventilation in Rat Diaphragm Muscle
Authors Namuduri, AV; Heras, G; Mi, J; Cacciani, N; Hörnaeus, K; Konzer, A; Lind, SB; Larsson, L; Gastaldello, S
Source Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP
Teaching portfolio
September 2021 - now: course responsible for the Project work in translational physiology and pharmacology at the Master Program in Translational Physiology and Pharmacology.
September 2021 - now: I collaborate in the Scientific work course at the Master program in Science Medicine.
January 2019 - May 2020: course responsible for the Physiology 2 Course at the Physiotherapists program. Teaching: Kidney and Digestion Physiology. Organizing and teaching practical physiology labs.
From 1997 - now, I have been involved in teaching and hold tutorial lectures to bachelor, master and PhD students at Medical and Surgical faculty, University study of Padua, at Biomedicine faculty at Karolinska Institutet, and at Pharmacy faculty of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China.
Education
2006 PhD in Biology and Molecular Cellular Pathology. University of Padua, Italy. Thesis title “Reconstitution of sarcoglycan complex in HEK-293 cells. Study three alpha-sarcoglycan mutations observed in LGMD-2D”.
2002 Molecular and Cellular Biology Master degree at the University of Padua (110/110 cum laude).
1990 High school "I.T.I.S. G. Natta”, Padova. Qualified chemist technician with specialization in biochemistry and biology with full marks (60/60).
Academic honours, awards and prizes
Visiting professor at Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China.
Italian National Scientific Certificate (ASN) in Molecular Biology 05/E2 and Physiology 05/D1.
VR Young Investigator Grant 2014-2017.